A little update and some exciting news!
I’m writing to you from the comfort of my sofa on what can only be described as a typical Scottish summer day… yes, rain!
This is my first time writing a blog post in so long, but it feels good to be back. It’s been a busy year so far, with many changes and discoveries, but hopefully, this is the start of something new and exciting for me. The main reason I’m writing is to explain where I have been the past few months and where I hope Slow Living Scotland will go.
My last event was over eight months ago, and whilst I had the fleeting idea of putting on something this summer, the event had to be cancelled for various reasons, and to be honest, I was relieved.
I have had so much fun organising events over the past few years. I have learned a lot and met some truly wonderful people during that time. However, as I continue to learn more about myself and figure out what makes me tick, I realise that the stress, time, and work involved in organising those events just isn’t me. Whilst I won’t say I’ll never do them again, my heart tells me it is time to throw in the towel and stop forcing these events to happen. I enjoy a slower, quiet pace of life (obviously!), and whilst having my own business and working my hours allows me some flexibility, the work no longer lights me up. I no longer get excited about the prospect of hosting another event.
I have been called recently to focus my attention inwards. I have been slowing down even more. I am adjusting to life in our new home, with my kids seemingly getting older by the day. I’ve settled down with two part-time jobs - one of which is dog walking - which means I can be outside for most of the day, clear my head and exercise while earning a bit of money. Shamefully, I felt a little embarrassed opting for that job instead of the other types I’ve had throughout my life, but it has been one of the best decisions I’ve made in a long time. My mental and physical health has improved significantly, and I really enjoy it! (Well, apart from when it rains and you probably shouldn’t ask me again in the winter!)
Unfortunately, my events, particularly the Conscious Market, won’t return anytime soon, but I have a couple of new ideas I’d like to explore.
One of the things people loved about my events was how they were curated. With that in mind, I have created three separate directories on my website that feature all my favourite businesses and, in my opinion - the best- events, escapes, and stores in Scotland. It is a small list to start, but I intend to add to it seasonally. I want to get to know some more local businesses, events, and escapes before featuring them on the site, as I want to guarantee that everything I recommend, I have tried and tested and would use or visit myself.
I also intend to write more, which is what I really love to do. Whether it’s about my life, the places I’ve visited, or events I’ve been to, I want to take the time to write about them all, honestly and fairly. All will continue to have a slow living theme in mind, as it’s still another thing I feel very passionate about. I’ll also write about some of the businesses I feature in my directories, getting to the heart and soul of their business and finding out what slow living means to them.
As always, it’s a work in progress, but it gives me a much-needed creative outlet and a chance to feel excited about something again. I love writing and find that it’s all I’m ever called to do these days. I have no idea where this might go, or if many of you will even read it, but for the sake of creativity, I have to give it a go and see what happens.
I would love to know your thoughts on everything I have mentioned here. I want to create something meaningful for you as well as myself, so if you have any ideas or suggestions, please leave a comment below or feel free to email me at slowlivingscot@gmail.com
Rachael x
P.S. As you may already know, I love to read, so I’ve added a link to my little online bookshop on bookshop.org - a fantastic site that allows you to purchase books from independent retailers all over the UK. I’ll add to the shop as much as possible, but you can also check out my new highlight on Instagram for some of my more recent reads.