Passion, Play, and Pleasure: Slow Living in Rural Portugal

Let go of time…

Photo by Lonely Girl, Lonely World

While I was at the Passion, Play, and Pleasure dance retreat in Portugal, I got the rare opportunity to relax and melt into my surroundings completely. I read on the sunroof, swam in the canal, meditated in the prayer room — all without regard to time, apart from our scheduled retreat activities. I was really slow living.

“Slow living” is a term that’s surged in popularity the past couple years, though many people still haven’t heard of it. From what I’ve observed thanks to the YouTube algorithm, it appears to describe a lifestyle that prioritizes taking things easy, slow, and even romantically. The Wikipedia definition dictates, “Slow living is a lifestyle which encourages a slower approach to aspects of everyday life, involving completing tasks at a leisurely pace. The origins of this lifestyle are linked to the Italian slow food movement, which emphasised traditional food production techniques in response to the emerging popularity of fast food during the 1980s and 1990s.”

So, there. Good food, good life. (And the food at Orada was really good.)

Inspired by the videos I watched online, I made my own slow living video of the week I spent at Monte da Orada, the wellness centre located in the woods of Odemira, Alentejo, Portugal.

Sometimes the best way to relay how a place or activity felt is by showing it, and this video has become a cherished portrayal of a very special time in my life.

I think slow living came to the forefront as a reaction — or counteraction, more like — to traditional urban hustle, when everyone realized exactly how busy we had been before. I, myself, had always been prone to burnout due to the nature of the artistic work I did, and it took a lot of therapy and self-reflection to become comfortable with doing less. Now I try to prioritize a smaller group of tasks I want to do really well.

For me, slow living is about taking the time to nurture yourself first and foremost. It’s about giving your attention to the things that bring you peace and joy.

One day I’ll make my way back to Orada, full circle, but for now, I’ll let the visuals take over.


Photo by Lonely Girl, Lonely World

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Passion, Play, and Pleasure: Dancing on the Beach

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Passion, Play, and Pleasure: Dance Retreat in Southern Portugal