This is not my... Interview
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Rohan Gunatillake is the founder of: slowlondon
"slowlondon is a community of people and ideas, here to celebrate, inspire, bring everyone that little bit closer together (and have fun along the way)..."
Find out more at: www.slowlondon.com
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How did slowlondon come about?
I've always been interested in slowness but it all came about when I started working in London.
I had a 'moment' when I was standing outside Bank tube station.
It was 5.30 and hundreds of people were rushing past me. At that point I had a feeling of calm and it seemed as if my calmness was having a slowing effect on those moving frantically past me.
The word slowlondon just came into my head.
I had read Carl Honore's book, In Praise of Slow, so it was not a revelationary idea but an extrapolation of one.
I thought about parks in China where people do Tai Chi and imagined getting people to do the same in the Square Mile. The idea began to evolve into something more generally about well being.
On the August bank holiday last year I emailed round everyone I know explaining the outline of this idea. I didn't know what it would become but I wanted to see who might want to be involved.
I got a lot of responses saying, "Good idea - anyhow see you at football..." but about ten that said: "Yeah I really like this concept. Let's talk about it some more."
Most importantly, my friend Tom Carter got in touch and offered to help with the website side of things.
We then all got together last October to discuss ideas for slowlondon.
Anything that was interesting or funny or both!
We came up with four core points:
1 - Invitation
slowlondon does not aim to tell people what to do, that would be arrogant. It invites you to ask questions and to explore ideas.
2 - Community
There are so many people doing great things but they might not talk to each other, or share experiences or know each other even. slowlondon wants to encourage conversations between groups doing similar things.
Less formally we are also contacted by lots of individuals.
Someone emailed the site the other day saying: "I've been waiting for this for so long". That kind of thing gives us momentum but also highlights that people are looking for this type of community.
3 - Support
It may be that your idea of slowlondon is different to mine but each can be supported.
We can also lend support for each other through demonstration and testimonial.
For example, if you are working in an office and everyone stays late because they feel they must, then it takes bravery to leave at 5.30.
It is great to know that others have done the same and that they are successful.
4 - Celebration
slowlondon is not anti-city, speed - anything really. It is the opposite, promoting the idea of choice and appreciation. It has a serious message but it is fun and light at the same time. It is about celebrating simple pleasures.
But these are only a basis for the site, floating all around it are changing and evolving ideas.
slowlondon is really just a label for a desire a lot of people have. It is an umbrella for ideas of a certain type that are a little counter cultural or subversive.
What then happened to the movement?
We got up the early website and invited comments. It started as one page explaining an idea. Now it has grown into a complete site but one that will change again as more and more people get involved.
Interest is increasing. Tom Hodgekinson wrote an article in the Guardian which led to new contributors and prompted a shift away from something created by a few friends to something influenced by a wider group.
What has the response been so far?
Fantastic.
We have had encouraging emails all the way up to someone saying that: "when I came across your website it felt like coming home."
We have had people visit from 37 countries like the UAE, Peru, Hong Kong, some guy in Spain has gone crazy for it and one person in Melbourne wants to start something similar.
slowlondon is called that because:
- it is a catchy name
- I started it and I live in London
- London needs something like this
but 90% of the content is transferable. The Events are London specific but everything else can be applied to any big city in the world. There is no reason that the model can't be spread. That there can't be a slowmelbourne.com.
What initiatives have come out of it?
One example is slowinthecity, where the middle Wednesday of each month is set out as a slow day.
I saw a blog entry on the Idler forum saying that they felt slowlondon was a great site but that it didn't explain what to do.
So we thought about it and built an Events section which included some tangible things. One big influence was We Are What We Do so it seemed like an extension of the kind of practical actions they suggest.
For the mid month Wednesday there is a jokey to do list. I call it 'The to do list to end all to do lists." Which I think is the funniest thing I have ever come up with in my life! (But then I guess I haven't come up with too many funny things....)
slowinthecity is something that is real life, it came out of a suggestion and is still something that people can get involved with. You can either do some actions and/or come up with others. The input is individual.
We are on London news on the 15th as they will be trying to see how people manage the 'to do' list - which will be great.
Loads of things have come out of this concept already but it is a matter of time to see if it develops and becomes something more.
What would you advise people to do more slowly?
Anything. Depending on the individual.
Even running can be a slow activity. Long distance runners often talk like people who meditate. Both get absorbed into an activity and are just focused on doing that one thing. Obviously less so if it is competitive!
I guess you have to work it out for yourself.
For me there is no one thing.
What do you think can be achieved by slow living?
More than you think!
The idea that taking a break can make you more productive is really important. Doing something all of the time is not necessarily the most efficient way. It is important to use breaks well.
Often if you are trying to solve a problem but hitting your head against a brick wall you will go and do something for a minute and suddenly the answer pops in to your head.
When you relax your thinking you allow ideas to flow in.
So often - more than you think.
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