THE SLOWEST WAY IS OFTEN THE FASTEST
Slow growth still counts.
Welcome to Issue #007 of Sojourn. Each week, I share two original essays to rebuild life and work with intention (hence ‘sojourn’)—in a private community that uses travel as a tool for reinvention.
We’re trained to think faster is better.
In the real world—vineyards, gardens, architecture—speed without foundation is fragility in disguise.
THE VINEYARD LESSON
Ripeness isn’t a date; it’s a decision. Grapes picked by taste, not timetable, turn thin into timeless.
Travel note: Terra Dominicata (Priorat, Spain) — hillside vines, cellar tastings, one more week that changes the glass. You feel patience on the palate; it lands in your calendar.
THE GARDEN LESSON
More water ≠ faster growth. Rhythm beats force.
Travel note: The Newt in Somerset (UK) — gardens run the kitchen; dawn gardener walks, cyder pressed on site, menus by season. You stop asking “how fast?” and start asking “what’s in season?”
THE ARCHITECTURE LESSON
Shortcuts crack later. Integrity shows with time.
Travel note: Cap Rocat (Mallorca) — a 19th-century fortress restored stone by stone; light, air, and restraint do the talking. Nothing rushed; nothing flimsy.
HOW THIS APPLIES TO WORK & REINVENTION
Rushing creates rework. Quick wins wobble under weight. Slow early—clarify values, design systems, learn deeply—and you move faster later because you’re not fixing avoidable cracks.
Wait for readiness, not the calendar. Ship when the signal is clear.
Build for inspection, not launch day. Assume future-you will check your work.
Choose rhythm over surge. Steady reps compound; sprints exhaust.
PRACTICAL RESET (ONE WEEK)
Subtraction: remove one input that speeds you up but lowers quality.
Seasonal swap: align one deliverable to a monthly rhythm (editorial, offer, ritual).
Integrity pass: before you publish/launch, fix one thing only time would reveal.
LIGHT SCRIPTS YOU CAN COPY
Pre-arrival
“Hi [Name], I’m aiming for an unhurried stay. If possible: a quiet room, no TV/newspaper on arrival, and a kettle with tea. Thank you.”
Check-in ask
“I’m pacing slow this week. Is there a sunrise or blue-hour spot you recommend for quiet?”
Dining
“Could we space courses a bit? I’m journaling between—no rush.”
PACK A SLOW-BUILD KIT
Analog watch • small notebook + pen • reusable bottle • soft light (lamp/app) • one warm layer for dawn/dusk.
IF YOU’RE NOT SOLO
Pick one shared boundary (phones off at breakfast). Keep the rest personal. Praise the feel, not the rule.
REFLECTION
Where did pace—not effort—improve your work this week?
What detour did slowing early remove?
Which single practice will you keep for 30 days?
Takeaway: You can hurry results, or you can keep them—rarely both.
The slowest way is often the fastest because it removes the detours.
If you feel “behind,” you might be exactly on time.
~Ana