That enigma is the essence of what inspires the Slow Movement, characterized in Carl Honoré's 2004 book In Praise of Slowness as “a cultural revolution against the notion that faster is always better. The Slow philosophy is not about doing everything at a snail’s pace. It’s about seeking to do everything at the right speed. Savoring the hours and minutes rather than just counting them. Doing everything as well as possible, instead of as fast as possible. It’s about quality over quantity."
Whether Slow necessarily equates to Quality is up for debate, but one thing is certain, microshiners subscribe to its doctrine. With no vast undeveloped wilderness remaining to harbor fresh prospects the best option is to turn inward, to begin to refine the human experience, to slow down and smell the roses, to literally lead a life, distilled. This is what it means to be a microshiner; to realize that what matters most in life is not waiting somewhere over the next horizon, but right there in front of you.
But most of us are hesitant to accept this reality. We rush about in an attempt to distract ourselves from the fact that the world really is that small, that life truly is this short. Citing Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, we fancy that by moving faster than others we will outlive them, while in truth we merely end up leading a life half lived.
Not that there isn’t a need to seize the moment with timely action. To the contrary, this movement is about creating the space and awareness necessary for accomplishing great things. While others scurry about like rats in a maze, the microshiner or practitioner of Slow takes a more meditative approach. It is the classic lesson of the Tortoise and the Hare. Or in the words of Phil Dunphy, “Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.”
One person who gets this concept, and employs it, is Ryan Carson, CEO of Treehouse. Since 2006, Carson has maintained a four-day work week at Treehouse. He believes that ensuring balance between work and the life outside it actually makes employees more productive. More importantly, he feels its the right thing to do, for our time and his people.
And that is the thing that is most striking about an inquiry of Slow philosophy: that we now occupy a space in which we actually have the opportunity to practice it, if not attain the balance it proposes. Never before has humanity been wealthier or more at peace than the present, or our physical needs more fully met. There are fewer of us than ever spending our time engaged in meeting these basic requirements. There is no reason not to go Slow.
Microshiners know this. The craft movement is our response to it. Whether it is creating balance amongst our personal obligations, choosing quality over quantity in our purchasing decisions, or simply enjoying a great cocktail with good company, we understand there is much to be gained from a more purposeful and deliberate pace. Our goal is to revel in the moment, to proclaim it in word and deed, in art and experience, to realize as best we are able the amazing gift of our very existence.
We hope you will join us on this journey.
