Adriana's Diary: No One Is Coming to Save You (and Live Slowly for You)

Hello, October! The month of spooky vibes, cinnamon rolls, and pumpkin patches has arrived with cloudy skies and crisp morning air. Will it surprise you if I tell you life has been busy lately? Probably not. Yours is likely speeding up too as we approach Christmas. Here at YR Studio, we’ve launched a brand new candle—our first-ever Halloween scent. We’ve also nearly sold out of our second restock of the country home decor collection. A new restock is on the way, which means more photographing, editing, writing, and packing.

You know that saying, "No one is coming to save you"? I know, I know - it sounds like something Andrew Tate might say while trying to sell shady crypto to his ice-bath bros. But honestly, it's pretty relatable for us, slow-living ladies too.

Why No One Is Coming to Save You (And Why That’s Empowering)

I recently had this thought after exchanging comments with a woman who said slow living is only for privileged people (more on that in a moment) and that it’s impossible to do with three children and a full-time job. I tried to gently explain that slow living is about finding joy in the life you have right now, we shouldn't mix it up with Pinterest aesthetic. Sure, a cottage in the countryside is a great place to live, but it’s not a requirement for practicing slow living.

Unfortunately, I lost that conversation and ended up saying, “You’re right—if you believe you can’t practice slow living, then it’s impossible for you.” And I meant it. Because no one is going to do it for you. If she doesn’t believe she’s capable of it, well… then she’s not.

No one is coming to change our habits or point out all the good things in our lives. We’re the only ones responsible for our worldview. The truth is, most of us live a good, solid life our ancestors couldn’t even imagine—the safety, the comfort, the warmth, access to food, education and entertainment. Yet, so many still feel like it’s not enough.

I’m not here to vilify social media. I use it for my business and am grateful that it helps me connect with like-minded people. How many of my readers found me through YouTube or Instagram? But the problem lies in how much exposure we get during one scrolling session.

Imagine this: You open Instagram or TikTok and see a beautiful woman saying her secret is face yoga. Maybe you should try it? You scroll a bit more and see a couple who bought a rundown barn and DIYed it into a beautiful country house. Should you try some DIY too? Then you see the top 10 places to visit in the Cotswolds, and now you’re thinking of saving for a staycation... See where I’m going?

Every time we open these apps, we see people doing amazing things, living in beautiful places, wearing beautiful clothes, simply *being* beautiful—and we let it make us feel less than.

My job for you is to start practicing detachment when consuming this kind of inspirational content. Take what’s useful, enjoy it—because people put a lot of effort into creating those little videos—but don’t let it make you feel like your life isn’t enough.

Back to the conversation I mentioned. Everyone is busy. Our sinks are full of dishes, and the car needs another repair. The odds of winning the lottery or unexpectedly inheriting a few million are slim.

Here’s your choice: You can let yourself be consumed by the feeling that your life isn’t good enough, that you didn’t wake up in a country cottage with a rose-covered gate and a hefty trust fund. You can keep comparing your life to others and get stuck in the mindset that good things are impossible for you because you’re too busy and don’t live in the right place.

OR

You can appreciate your life as it is, finding moments of calm and joy wherever possible, all while working toward an even better future. Accept that people are different—yes, some are wealthy—but you also have things others long for. What are they? For me, I have two healthy children, while others pray for that blessing. Although I’m still renting a house with a low-key ugly kitchen, the low rent helps us save for our forever home. I have an amazing husband who’s also my best friend. The list goes on, even down to small things like the hot water bottle pressed against my belly that feels so comforting right now.

The mindset choice is yours.

Now, a little note about privilege, because it’s important to acknowledge. Yes, we slow-living practitioners are privileged in many ways. We live in a free world, with voting rights and disposable income.

This privilege allows us to strive for a more meaningful life, and that’s why I believe you’re here, reading this post. I think we should all add to our gratitude lists the fact that we even have the mindset to seek a life like this.

In choosing a slow and mindful way of living, we’re embracing the beauty in the simple and ordinary. After all, life is meant to be enjoyed, not rushed through. Isn’t it worth savouring every moment we can?

Thank you for reading
Adriana x