Slow Family Living

I've been reading a lot lately, about how to build strong and solid connections within a family. Something I came across was the idea of "slow family living". It is a principle of creating an environment within the family where everyone is able to be PRESENT and as a result be more connected, patient, loving and understanding.

Slow Family Living is a revolution in the way we think about, embrace and implement family living. It was born out of our belief that family life is being hijacked by society’s messages that more is better, faster is greater and that you and your children are at risk of being left behind, unless you buy in NOW.
It is about allowing family life to unfold in a way that is joyfully and consciously connected. This means slowing it down, finding comfort in the home, and creating the space to see and honor the family as an entity, while simultaneously keeping sight of each member as a unique and valuable individual.
We believe that family life can serve as the incubator for deeper compassion, creativity, love, harmony, humor, appreciation, respect, fun, ingenuity, conflict resolution, peace, friendship, growth, communication and, perhaps above all else, true, unending and powerful joy.
As we intentionally give value and space to family life, we are thereby creating a
force — with a sum greater than its parts — that can then flow out into the
local and the global communities. We hold this as truth, that the peace and
the harmony we want to exist within the world, can be created within the family
first, by bringing it home and lovingly, consciously and intentionally slowing
life down. ©. All Rights Reserved. Slow Family Living

Here is a list of things I want to consciously do more of in the name of connection:

• 
  Write letters, send postcards every chance you get. Keep stamps in your wallet so that whenever you think of someone, you can jot them a quick note.
  
• Talk it through.
  
• Say sorry. Be sorry that there was strife. In the name of peace and love.
  
• Forgive. And forget. And move on.
  
• Give people a second chance. More if they’re family. And if they’re your children, give them endless chances.
  
• Ask people questions about themselves. Your family and friends and also people you meet on the street. Whether you’re at the grocery counter or the bank or the gas station, talk to people about their life.
  
• Listen to the answers.
  
• Make the connection when you think of making the connection. When you think of calling someone, call them at that moment.
  
• Have extra beds on hand for guests. Or cots. Or sleeping bags. And lots and lots of blankets.
  
• If you have to choose between order and quiet or mess and noise, go for the mess and noise. It might make you a little crazy but there’s plenty of time for order and quiet when you get old.

This is my goal for my family, this is the way I want to intentionally and caonsciously build stronger and deeper connections with my children, step children and husband.