Why This Headline Means More When Read Slowly

Last night I had dinner with two friends I’ve known for a couple of decades. Every month we go to the same pizzeria and get a large pizza with sausage, mushroom, tomatoes and pepperoni.

Same friends.

Same place.

Same order.

We talked about the minutia of our daily lives. Nothing exciting. Slow, easy chitchat among good friends. The kind of conversation it has taken me years to appreciate. It was good because it was slow.

I was reminded of the importance “slow” while listening to Malcolm Gladwell’s podcast, Revisionist History. As someone that subscribes to well over 50 podcasts, Revisionist History has quickly become one of my favorites. Smart. Insightful. Entertaining. Just what any reader of Gladwell expects.

The most recent episode only briefly discusses the subject of slowing things down. Gladwell is making a far larger and profound point. But what caught my attention and caused the tiniest of light bulbs to flicker in my head was this idea that slowing adds meaning.

My cup of coffee is better when I take the time to enjoy the subtle nuances of the beans. The ice cream more delicious why I pay attention to the taste, temperature, and texture. In fact, things that are experiences are all made more memorable when multiplied by time.

As an ADHD kid who's now an adult easily amused by life’s baubles this is a lesson I continue to learn. Pausing to savor creates the experience my novelty, thrill seeking mind craves. The beauty of everything comes from the slow.