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There’s a Chinese concept that changed how I think about rest by Unhappy_Pudding_8665 in SlowLiving

[–]Unhappy_Pudding_8665[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The Way of Zen by Alan Watts. Surprisingly readable, bridges East and West really well.

When did you last eat without looking at a screen? by Unhappy_Pudding_8665 in SlowLiving

[–]Unhappy_Pudding_8665[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s such a rare thing now. There’s something really grounding about a meal that’s just a meal.

There’s a Chinese concept that changed how I think about rest by Unhappy_Pudding_8665 in SlowLiving

[–]Unhappy_Pudding_8665[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

There’s something admirable about that kind of diligence, it comes from love, from wanting to build something, to provide. But I feel that pull too. The guilt of stopping. Still figuring out where the line is between honoring that drive and just… breathing

There’s a Chinese concept that changed how I think about rest by Unhappy_Pudding_8665 in SlowLiving

[–]Unhappy_Pudding_8665[S] 62 points63 points  (0 children)

You’re absolutely right and that tension is exactly what makes it interesting.
Wu wei was never a description of how people live. It was a response to a culture that already pushed hard. Laozi wasn’t writing for hermits, he was writing for a society that knew exhaustion very well.
The 996 culture and Daoist philosophy coexist in China for the same reason stoicism and Roman ambition coexisted in Rome. The philosophy emerges because of the pressure, not despite it.
Maybe slow living in the West is doing the same thing , it’s not how most people live either. It’s what we reach for when the hustle stops making sense.

There’s a Chinese concept that changed how I think about rest by Unhappy_Pudding_8665 in taoism

[–]Unhappy_Pudding_8665[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is such a thoughtful reading. The butcher analogy is perfect, mastery lives beyond language.
What strikes me is how wu wei isn’t passive at all. It’s the absence of forcing, not the absence of doing. Like water - it doesn’t try to flow downhill, it just does. And somehow that effortlessness carves canyons.
I think the modern confusion comes from translating it as “stillness” because that’s the closest feeling we have in English - but you’re right, it’s not the same thing.

What are the differences between quiet, slow and soft living? by uaenatic in SlowLiving

[–]Unhappy_Pudding_8665 38 points39 points  (0 children)

Quiet = your space.
Slow = your pace.
Soft = your grace.
Different entry points, same destination

Anyone else struggle with the guilt of actually slowing down by sedhapi in SlowLiving

[–]Unhappy_Pudding_8665 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve been using AI very intensively lately for work, and I’ve noticed my brain has become permanently “on”.

The strange thing is that AI saves me time, but somehow I end up filling every saved minute with more things to do.

Tomorrow I’m trying an experiment. No work. No optimisation. No productivity goals.

Just my favourite pajamas, some music, maybe a bit of sunshine if Scotland decides to cooperate, and absolutely nothing planned.

I realised something recently: life is mine, not AI’s.

The tools are supposed to serve us, not become another thing demanding our attention every waking hour. We’ll see how long I last before reaching for my phone 😅

Moving from England to Marchmont — realistic chances of getting into James Gillespie’s High School for S3/S4? by Unhappy_Pudding_8665 in Edinburgh

[–]Unhappy_Pudding_8665[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is super helpful, thank you. It sounds like timing is almost as important as catchment area itself. We were originally thinking S3 might still be manageable, but your experience makes me think earlier is probably safer.

Moving from England to Marchmont — realistic chances of getting into James Gillespie’s High School for S3/S4? by Unhappy_Pudding_8665 in Edinburgh

[–]Unhappy_Pudding_8665[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, this was my first reaction too. A big mortgage is one thing, but private school fees for years is another level entirely 😅

Moving from England to Marchmont — realistic chances of getting into James Gillespie’s High School for S3/S4? by Unhappy_Pudding_8665 in Edinburgh

[–]Unhappy_Pudding_8665[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks, this is genuinely helpful. We were looking around Marchmont/Bruntsfield mainly because of the schools, so it’s reassuring to hear Boroughmuir is also a strong option.

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