La lentezza ci salverà

We are in the midst of the whims of the seasons that surprise and disorientate us. And we find ourselves combining the routine with everything that questions us and sends us into a frenzy. In the meantime, perhaps it is obvious or banal to remind ourselves, but today we are all in a hurry because everything is fast and pressing. Woe betide anyone who slows down! Thus losing the pleasure of doing things calmly, of investing in a little patience, of respecting the beautiful and simple things of everyday life, neglecting important and precious presences such as those of senior friends who inevitably go further slow…

Unfortunately, even a slowdown that slows down the instantaneity of technological devices sends us into a tailspin, with nervousness on the surface. Of course, today's context does not help to rewrite these daily steps by designing them with the scansion of measure, of self-control, of sensitivity to small things, of awareness of what is happening around us... But it is one of the challenges, a little encrypted, of the present hour that envelops us with all its assorted complications. And yet the quality of life is at stake, on which we must continually shape ourselves, so as not to drag along heavy ballast that delude us into thinking we are speeding up a little. everything, but that, when all is said and done, disorient us and throw us off track, emptying us of awareness, perhaps of poetry, even of good humor. It would be enough to try to concentrate on how the day unfolds, on the encounters we have, on the situations to go through, on the commitments to face, on the dialogue to weave and, who knows, even on some stretch of rapid silence that helps to focus or refocus. These are lessons that are good at any age. And perhaps we desperately need them, while we don't want to think about them too much. As if speed were a second skin or an overbearing identity that should not be damaged.

Maddalena Matoso, an internationally renowned children's illustrator from Lisbon, who has an unmistakable, simple and profound style, talks about it in Messaggero dei ragazzi. He sends a message to the very young: have moments of pause, of silence, paying attention to details, to small and slow things. It's worth it. After all, it's an existential recipe within everyone's reach, in all seasons, in all conditions. And if we take up this "challenge", we will feel in good company and we will go a good way. Adopting rhythms that do not overwhelm but give us breathing space, defeating an overlapping of inputs that leave us disoriented. Will slowness save us? Well, let's not imagine it as the panacea for everything and more, but it certainly helps, indeed.


Corrado Avagnina
NP August/September '24