These are fast and confusing times.

Interesting, for sure, but confusing.

And fast.

Almost everything we desire is available almost straight away.

Express delivery and direct downloads have driven us into the realm of instant gratification.

We want it now (or even sooner) and we can get it, at least most of it.

That’s very comfortable and I like it in general, but it is also completely fucking up our capacity to take things slow, let alone enjoy that.

Now you might say something like “Well, Marnix, that is how progress works, isn’t it?”

And maybe you are right.

That’s not really my point.

I am not selling mindfulness or minimalism or forest bathing or going back to black and white television, but what I DO know is that patience and almost painfully invisible growth have given me a tremendous amount of pride, confidence, strength, grounding, and hope.

Mastering something comes with its own unique rewards, while stuff you obtain overnight never feels like you’ve really earned it.

Mastering something takes time and energy, and it means overcoming disappointment, it’s about getting to know your deepest, most impatient parts and standing your ground.

Now I am not selling that either.

You can go as fast as you want to, you can be as impatient as you fancy.

That’s cool with me.

But learning to love the slow helped me tremendously.

In quitting my devastating alcohol and tobacco and weed habits.

In becoming a copywriter.

In learning how to write and compose music.

In changing my diet and my physique.

In learning how to love this weird dude I am allowed to play.

And, pretty recently, in transforming into a fierce coach.

In short: slowing down has made me happy.

Sounds good? Let’s chat.