Sydney, October 2024
There & Back Again
Well, there you have it.
After five months of hopping through Asia, I find myself back in the hemisphere of pleasant chatterbugs, highly saturated blue skies, blindingly bright sun, and my long-lost cousin: a loaf of sourdough. I know what you’re thinking: Australia, alas! 🦘
Five months it’s been – five months since I last set foot on this remote enclave of the Western world. Through fresh eyes and a renewed sense of gratitude, I’ve come to appreciate it more than ever. Turns out, you don’t truly appreciate your own backyard until you’ve explored the far corners of the neighborhood.
The world is vast and filled with vastly different places from the ones you call home. Bewilderment and befuddlement are guaranteed. A sense of awe and excitement for exploration can shield you from the unfortunate realities of a world with infinite needs and finite resources. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), not all your exploratory strolls have the same effect; some are eye-opening, while others make the hair on your neck stand up. You never know what you may uncover – and that’s all part of the process.
It’s as if I’ve stepped off a rollercoaster and into a serene garden – except this garden is filled with kangaroos and the occasional cheeky seagull eyeing my ham & cheese toastie. 🥪
The lack of inhumane humidity, the vast luminosity, and the crisp spring weather were just what my soul longed for. No more rice; more sourdough. Ah, the warm embrace of the West.
After what felt like the 100th time packing and unpacking my backpack, I found myself yearning for moments of stillness. The stage was set for a new chapter: Enter the Slow Life.
TL;DR: This essay explores the pursuit of novelty and finding balance between slowing down and speeding up in life — a delightful dichotomy between adventure and routine to savor experiences while also finding peace in stillness.
The Fast Lane
Travel is exhilarating. But also exhausting. Every moment feels like a new adventure, and you’re living life at full throttle – like a double espresso on an empty stomach.
After many months of non-stop activity, I felt more like a pinball than a traveler – bouncing around with all the grace of a caffeinated squirrel. I couldn’t help but ask myself: At what point was I traveling for travel’s sake?
There are only so many things you can get excited about. The more I saw and experienced, the more desensitized I became. Eventually, even something truly spectacular elicited only a timid nod and a faint “meh.” Something had to change.
Now that I've spent a month in Sydney –standing still for the first time in what feels like forever– I've had enough time to collect my thoughts. Slowing down after speeding down the fast lane has been nice.
While digging into my breakfast arvo sordo toast (avocado toast on sourdough, for the uninitiated), I came across this post that got me thinking:
“New experiences are the only things that slow down time.”
Is chasing new experiences really the antidote to feeling like your life is slipping away? How come most people are perfectly happy to lay down roots and stick to a (dare I say boring) routine? Do they know something I don’t?
Let’s think it through together.
The Need for Speed
The world glorifies speed. Faster is often better. Just think of office tropes like: “I want that report – ASAP!” or the all-too-familiar booking platform nag: “Hurry! Don’t miss out!” or your wife in labor in the back seat screaming, “Get me to the hospital, pronto!” Okay, maybe in that last one urgency is actually warranted.
Today’s society sure seems built around rewarding instant gratification. Where does that leave us? Addicted to the next thing? Never satisfied? As tempting as it may be to blame Amazon’s Same-Day Delivery, we’re the ones taking the bait after all.
We crave experiences that make our hearts race while simultaneously seeking tranquility that allows us to catch our breath. It's ironic, isn't it? Always craving what we don't have. When everyone around you is jumping on the new experience carousel, slowing down suddenly becomes a rebellious act.
The idea is simple: sometimes you need to hit pause to truly appreciate what’s around you. Think of it as life’s way of saying, “Take a chill pill, will ya?”
Philosophically speaking (because it wouldn’t be one of my essays without a sprinkle of existential musings), slowing down can lead to profound insights. It’s like stepping back from the canvas to see the whole picture rather than just chaotic brush strokes up close. In those quiet moments, whether it's sipping coffee while watching clouds drift or simply sitting in silence – clarity emerges.
Between Adventure & Routine
Coming clean: As much as this year has been an extended adventure, I wouldn’t be able to sustain it without moments of Slow Life – and yes, even the occasional Netflix binge.
There were days when I found myself in a whirlwind of activity – checking in and out of accommodations, hopping on dubious transportation – always on the hunt for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and all those things you do in between. After all, life is what happens between meals... right?
In these hectic moments, I realized how crucial it is to set aside time for reflection. And no, it's not always as glamorous as staring at sunsets for serenity. More often than not, it's just staring at the ceiling after going through airport security or while waiting at the gate before inevitably doom-scrolling on your phone.
Focus! Let’s not get side-tracked.
Back to our question: Are new experiences really the only things that slow down time?
Well… it depends! If by new experiences you mean things different from what you’re used to – then most definitely! In fact, we could easily swap out “new experiences” with “novelty.”
This applies if you’re stuck in a routine. After all, what is new is simply what differs from our present circumstances. Chilling on the couch can be just as novel for a jet-setter as cliff-jumping is for a couch potato – it goes both ways!
So it is settled; experts agree; sources say; it is frowned upon if you disagree that:
Novelty slows down time. Conversely, as soon as novelty fades into the mundane, time begins to fly by again.
But what’s all this fuss about time anyway? (whatever you do, don’t click here)
Embracing the Slow Life
It has become clear to me: Slowing down is essential to moving forward.
Once we've established that balance between speed and stillness can enrich our lives, here are two things that have worked wonders for me:
Do-nothing days are features, not bugs: Think of them as software updates for your soul! A new pedometer high will feel all the more special if it follows (or precedes) a slow day. Variety is indeed the spice of life.
Find a home away from home: Replicate something familiar in unfamiliar territory. Shopping for groceries, cooking a home-cooked meal, or signing up for a free trial of your usual exercise routine goes a long way toward feeling settled.
The antithesis of the Slow Life is the Great Adventure. And just the right dose of chilling makes the adventures all the more special – like adding just enough spice to your favorite dish. This dichotomy applies to any lifestyle, but resonates particularly during this nomadic chapter of my life.
The Slow Life can literally slow down time if that's what you're looking for –especially if you're used to living in the fast lane!
And vice versa; it can make five weeks in suburbia seem like a blur! (the company of a four-legged Labrador friend might have something to do with it)
Conclusions
I’m currently living my best suburban life – some might call it the Australian Dream. It’s not my dream; it’s a borrowed dream. I’ll have to give it back soon – but I'm sure I'll look back fondly on it. Partly because I know it has an expiration date; partly because I'm kind of in tune with community dog park vibes – but that's neither here nor there.
Getting back into a routine reminded me that life isn't just about racing forward; it's about savoring the little things and everyday moments along the way!
So here’s my invitation to you:
Embrace quiet moments. Reflect on your experiences, laugh at your misadventures, and remember that slowing down does not equate to going backwards.
It’s simply hitting pause to refuel and reflect! Filling up your adventure saldo allows the next wave of novelty to wash over you – leaving behind not fleeting moments but lasting impressions.
Fun fact: Do you know why the Australian coat of arms has a kangaroo and an emu?
Turns out they were carefully selected from all the quirky Aussie fauna because they're one of those rare animals that can't walk backwards – they can only move forwards! A true symbol of progress for our nation, don't you think?
Anyway… I'm sure even kangaroos and emus know when to take breaks and enjoy the view from time to time. So why shouldn't we?
In closing… remember – you’re just the story your brain tells itself!
Cheers to that!
For a moment I thought you were referring to Berti when you wrote "my long-lost cousin"...
1) Who's that wifey you're talking about?
2) The real wifey says you're welcome for the suburbia rides (and roasted chickenzzz).
3) We're kidnapping Liluli.