A Celebration of Slow Living
Celebrated annually in the month of June, world Sauntering Day is a unique and delightful observance that encourages individuals to slow down and appreciate the simple pleasures of life by walking at a leisurely pace, otherwise known as sauntering. This day serves as a reminder to embrace the art of walking slowly, with no particular destination in mind, and to enjoy the beauty of the present moment. Though the term “sauntering” might evoke images of leisurely strolls in a garden or through quiet streets, the meaning behind World Sauntering Day is much deeper, reflecting an ethos of mindfulness, relaxation, and the rejection of hustle culture. The term “saunter” itself comes from the French word “sainte-terre,” which means “holy land.” It is believed that medieval pilgrims would “saunter” in the sense that they walked slowly and mindfully on sacred ground.
Sauntering can also be viewed as an act of rebellion against the obsession with efficiency and constant motion that characterizes the modern society. It is a way of reclaiming time and rejecting the idea that every moment must be packed with action or purpose. The practice encourages individuals to be present, to observe the world in its smallest details, and to feel the freedom of walking without an agenda and not always be goal oriented. The idea is to take time out of a busy routine to disconnect from technology, work, and other distractions and to reconnect with oneself and the world around us.
There are a wide variety of physical, mental, and emotional benefits associated with sauntering. It is an opportunity to practice mindfulness. It allows the mind to wander freely without the pressure of deadlines, to-do lists, or end-results. This mental relaxation can lead to improved clarity, better problem-solving skills, and increased creativity. Gentle walking helps to improve cardiovascular health, boost circulation, and relieve tension in the body. Moreover, it can serve as a form of low-impact exercise that is accessible to people of all ages and fitness levels.
When walking slowly, people become more attuned to their surroundings, noticing the colors of flowers, the sounds of birds, the feel of the breeze, the rustling of leaves, the sound of their footsteps, and the rhythm of their heart beats leading to a sense of calm and contentment.
This attention to minute detail helps people become more present in the moment. As for instance, in a running cricket match, it is only a slow motion reel that enables us to review close calls and make sound and unbiased decisions.
In addition to slow living, sauntering is also related to the “slow movement” in general. For instance, the slow food movement, which began in Italy in the 1980s, advocates for the enjoyment of food that is locally sourced, sustainably produced, and prepared with care. Similarly, the slow travel movement encourages people to take more time to appreciate the places they visit, rather than rushing through tourist destinations. Both of these movements emphasize a return to slower, more deliberate ways of living, and World Sauntering Day embodies this ethos in a simple yet powerful way.
Interestingly, the Earth’s rotation has also slowed over time. In the distant past, about 600 million years ago, a day on Earth would have been around 21–22 hours, not the 24-hour cycle we have today. This is attributed to a combination of physical processes primarily involving tidal friction, the transfer of angular momentum, and the gravitational interaction between the Earth and the Moon. The earth is now therefore taking longer to make one full round. It seems to be too tired and wired. So is true of each one of us at one point or the other. Sometimes one has to go slow to keep the flow steady and not turn stochastic. We can always retrieve and reclaim, once we reset and restore. No one ever gets ahead of time nor is anyone lagging behind in the true sense of term. All of us are exacty where we ought to be. Universe has its own designs and plans.
Our perception of time has to be more profound and prolific. Time picks the pace and at other places ticks slow depending on circumstances, it envelops. There is no uniform universal clock of time. While observers in a stronger gravitational field will perceive their own clock as ticking normally, they will see clocks in weaker gravity as running faster. Even on Earth, this effect is present. Clocks at sea level experience a slightly slower time flow than those at higher altitudes. The force of gravity treats time like taffy. The stronger its pull, the more gravity can stretch out time, making it pass more slowly. We don’t just have to go with time but also learn to go the way it goes, sometimes fast and sometimes slow, driven by purpose not by show. In that context there is a mind-blowing narration from Islamic tradition referenced in authentic hadith that a warrior namely Yusha ibn Nun or (Joshua)in Biblical tradition, requesting the Lord to hold back the setting of the sun so that he could complete a victory against the Canaanites.
So, let us gear up fast for an athletic event but let us also be slow on a sauntering day. This day is to choose a scenic route, a peaceful park, or a quiet street where you can walk slowly without distractions. Leave the phone behind, and take time to immerse yourself in the sights and sounds around you. Meanwhile, you can find me sauntering at great speeds on National Highway NH-44 to reach the dark room laboratory of my college where light of the day is barred to enter to make Physics work.
“Andhera gherae rakhta hai mera chand madham hai,
mujhe parwah khizan ki hai guloon se mera kya lena”
Dr. Qudsia Gani, Head Dept. of Physics Govt. Degree College, Pattan
