The Slow Living Lifestyle
Do you ever wonder why sometimes after the holiday, you feel like you need a vacation from your vacation? Or when you look back from this travel, you can't seem to remember a thing that impacted how you see the world differently? Let's dig in to this lifestyle called slow living. The origin of this lifestyle came from the Italian slow food movement which promotes traditional food production techniques because of the rise of fast food chains in 1980s and 1990s. To make it simpler, SLOW is an acronym used to summarize the goals of the slow living movement: Sustainable, local, organic, and whole. As someone who lives in a big city where everything is fast-paced, I yearn to have a life where I can take the time to slow down and relax. I believe that slow living is more of a mindset, you don't have to live in the countryside or disappear from social media to say that you are living slowly. It's all about doing a slower approach on every aspect of life so you can have more time to the things that are important to you.
Nowadays, however, there are so many ways to be connected that we often forget how much time we used to spend simply being human with other people: talking to them face-to-face; sharing stories around a campfire; having long conversations about life's big questions at night by a fire; or just simply sitting together in silence while watching clouds pass by above us while eating dinner together at home or out on a picnic under the stars on a warm summer evening. Slow living is not only about slowing down; it's also about improving our quality of life. It helps us connect with ourselves and others by learning how to live purposefully rather than compulsively.
The Small Town of Sagada
It's not my first time in Sagada, I visited it last 2020, before the world stops because of the pandemic. I even wrote a blog about it entitle "I Did My Own Eat, Pray, Love in Sagada" where I searched for my word, you can check it here. A lot has changed in this small town when I came back after two years. When I visited it this time around, I made sure to make it least about me and make it more about the town and the experience. I tried to be intentional with my time and to live more mindfully.
Here are some ways on how I practiced slow living in Sagada which you can also incorporate for yourself wherever you are.
Explore by foot
The art of slow living is about developing habits that allow you to live at a slower pace in this fast-paced world, so you can savor every moment of your life. Walking is a great way to exercise and it's essential if you want to practice slow living. Exploring by foot is also a great enjoy your surrounding. Depending where you are staying, several spots in Sagada are accessible by foot. I spent the first two nights in Misty Lodge and Cafe, it is fifteen minutes away by foot from the town proper where you can find St. Mary's Church and the Hanging Coffins, and Sagada Weaving. If you want to have breakfast with a view of sunrise and sea of clouds, the Isang Wow Café (Inverted House) is 26 minutes away by walk from Misty Lodge, make sure to get there before sunrise. They offer a ride but I preferred to walk and enjoy the morning breeze and the beauty of nature. On my third night, I stayed in Sagada Guest House, it's right beside the Municipal Town Hall and the Tourist Information Center, it was also my home during my first time in Sagada.
Eat Local
The slow-living movement is all about enjoying the simple things in life. When traveling, I love trying out local food. It's one of the best ways to enjoy and learn about a new place. One of the aims of slow living is consuming materials and products locally. Organic and whole food is widely available in Sagada. Personally, I prefer homecooked meals. If you are a foodie, Sagada is a paradise. Try their traditional dish pinikpikan at Sagada Brew, this chicken soup is perfect for the cold weather. Etag sisig is also a must-try in this restaurant. I tried these two dishes in the same restaurant in 2020 and I still came back here for it! Homemade yogurt is also a well-known product of Sagada, Misty Lodge and Yoghurt House offer delicious homemade yogurt! Masferre Restaurant, aside from the classy, homey interior, also offers homemade food, I tried their homemade pizza and it was amazing. And oh, if you're following my Instagram stories, I raved about this homemade chocolate whole wheat bread which is perfect for brewed coffee!
Have a Picnic and Enjoy Nature
Slow living doesn't always mean relaxing on the beach or at a spa. It can also be about finding time for yourself, taking a walk, or enjoying a picnic in nature. July in Sagada is perfect for me. The sun is out, you can hear birds chirping, and you can also enjoy a cup of coffee or hot chocolate. This visit in Sagada, I planned to have a picnic beside St. Mary's Church, it's a perfect picnic site for me, because of tall pine trees and quiet surrounding. I enjoyed writing blogs while listening to the chirps of birds and rusting leaves of the trees around me.
One of the biggest advantages of slow living is that it gives you time to appreciate the beauty of nature and its surroundings. You can go to a beautiful park, or a beach with your family, or even just sit at home and read a book. Try blending in and and appreciating nature around you. You should try and find some places where you can sit down for a while and relax by yourself or with friends. We have time to get lost in a good book or hike up a mountain or take long walks through nature.
Dolce Far Niente
Last but not the least on how I did slow living lifestyle in Sagada, I enjoyed "doing nothing". Slow living is all about taking the time to do things you love and make sure they're done right. The idea is to make your life as simple as possible while still having enough flexibility to do whatever you want. And it's something we can all do: we just have to decide what's worth doing and why we're doing it.
My Word
I did not find my word the first time I visited Sagada, I only had a phrase, "To be continued." Because I know I'd come back to Sagada not just to find my word, but to find out more about myself in this place. This time around, I've finally found my word..
"Alpas"
makawala
makalaya
to break free.
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