Astute readers will have noticed less frequent posting to this blog. Attentive listeners will have noticed the pattern of commentary about taking more time over things in recent episodes of the GM’s Journal. It arises from a decision I’ve made to work on slowing down.

Work is busy and life can feel intense. Rushing around day-by-day is exhausting. When I pile on the expectations I give myself around this lifestyle choice to run and play RPGs, it becomes overwhelming. The solution appears to be to do less, take more time over what you do, and savour those moments.

I read Honore’s “In Praise of Slow” sometime around 2005 and thought it was an important book. Then I rushed back into life at full-pelt. The thesis of course, that slowing down can radically alter the quality of our experience, was always one I appreciated. It was not a new idea but I needed to read about it.

“I love speed. But faster is not always better. Being Slow means doing everything at the correct speed: quickly, slowly or whatever pace works best. Slow means being present, living each moment fully, putting quality before quantity in everything…”

Carl Honore, carlhonore.com, [retrieved 13-03-24]

Allow moments of play to take as much time as they need.

When I rolled up a character at the weekend, I took the time to appreciate the experience. I also took the time to explore the rules of the game and understand, at least as much I needed to at that moment, what all the things on the character sheet meant. Didn’t get to start playing with them? That was ok.

In session, when the guys met and started to chat pre-game I went with it. Giving everyone time to chat was enjoyable. We didn’t need to rush into actual play because (I believe) the most important aspect of showing up for game night is to be with your gaming friends. No more rushing to get started. Take time to listen to each other.

In fact, as Brown reminds us, one of the strongest aspects of what makes play playful is the sense of timelessness and stepping outside of clock time. Getting lost in our play is important. If I am constantly watching the clock and anxious to move things on then the experience is diminished.

All talk of high pace in play is questionable: why are we concerned with rushing the events in play? Can’t the speed emerge organically? You might not think the time spent on this activity is exciting but I wonder why you believe everything, every moment, needs to be excited. Let things emerge in their own time.

In a world devoid of patience, I’ve come to realise that when I slow down – take my time to do my work at the appropriate pace for each moment – then I enjoy the experience more. There is quality to be appreciated in the interactions I share, the tasks I complete, and the lessons I teach.

I am all for working quickly when that’s necessary but I am finding it is far less necessary than I often believe. Slowing means less rush. Slower means more time for what is important to me – the people, the conversations, the emotions shared. Slow feels better.

I’m slowing down. Speaking when I have something to say. Writing when I have a thought I want to develop. Enjoying the stillness in between.

Game on!