Month: June 2026

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Photo: @kelseybswanson

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Ariana Madix’s Turquoise Mesh Dotted Turtleneck and Pants

Amanda Batula’s Season 10 Reunion Look

Ariana Madix’s Pink Sheer Crystal and Feather Embellished Gown

The Valley Season 3 Episode 11 Fashion

Summer House Season 10 Reunion Looks

Lindsay Hubbard’s Navy Blue Denim Collar Sweater

Ariana Madix’s Black Cutout Gown on The Love Island Season 8 Premiere

Amanda Batula’s Brown Confessional Top

Madison LeCroy’s Barrel Leg Jeans

Amanda Batula’s Light Blue Striped T Shirt

Lindsay Hubbard’s Army Green Cargo Pants

Liz McGraw’s Pink Floral Corset and Pants

Amanda Batula’s Brown Suede Jacket with Lindsay

Amanda Batula’s Brown Suede Pocket Front Jacket and Ripped Jeans

Amanda Batula’s Black and Polka Dot Maxi Dress at the In The City Premiere Party

Georgina Ferzli’s Navy Blue Sheer Dress

Liz McGraw’s Red Light Face Wand

Originally posted at: Kelsey Swanson’s Printed Crop Top and Maxi Skirt

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Photo: @stassischroeder

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Turn on your JavaScript to view content

Top Posts

Ariana Madix’s Turquoise Mesh Dotted Turtleneck and Pants

Amanda Batula’s Season 10 Reunion Look

Ariana Madix’s Pink Sheer Crystal and Feather Embellished Gown

The Valley Season 3 Episode 11 Fashion

Summer House Season 10 Reunion Looks

Lindsay Hubbard’s Navy Blue Denim Collar Sweater

Ariana Madix’s Black Cutout Gown on The Love Island Season 8 Premiere

Amanda Batula’s Brown Confessional Top

Madison LeCroy’s Barrel Leg Jeans

Amanda Batula’s Light Blue Striped T Shirt

Lindsay Hubbard’s Army Green Cargo Pants

Liz McGraw’s Pink Floral Corset and Pants

Amanda Batula’s Brown Suede Jacket with Lindsay

Amanda Batula’s Brown Suede Pocket Front Jacket and Ripped Jeans

Amanda Batula’s Black and Polka Dot Maxi Dress at the In The City Premiere Party

Georgina Ferzli’s Navy Blue Sheer Dress

Liz McGraw’s Red Light Face Wand

Originally posted at: Stassi Schroeder’s Yellow Cropped Trench Coat and Bag

I’ve always been quite quick and efficient. Quick to understand. Quick to act. Quick to respond. Then the “slow life” hit me full force on a beautiful fall day not too long ago. Not in the form of an inspiring book or a yoga retreat in India, but in the form of Fuji, a little Scottish Straight cat who’s now three years old. Since I didn’t want her wandering around outside alone, I started walking her on a leash when she was about 18 months old. I naively thought I was walking the cat. Beginner’s mistake. Fuji quickly showed me that, in this relationship, I was really just the bodyguard tied to the other end of the leash.

And No, I’d Never Had a Cat Before…

I’d never had a cat. So I didn’t know she’d lead me wherever she wanted, whenever she wanted. That’s how I discovered what it means to spend 12 minutes gazing at the top of a tree, hoping to see a squirrel move. At first, I’d sigh and get impatient, but one day, I found myself looking up too.

Since then, I’ve started working from home, and we’ve gone on more walks, making those seemingly pointless stops that, in the end, aren’t so pointless after all. I’ve always loved trees, parks, and fresh air, and these daily walks have reconnected me to a source of well-being that our professional lives so often rob us of. Some call it the “slow life.” I call it being re-educated by an eight-pound animal who refuses to bow to the dictates of our overly hurried society.

What Exactly Is Slow Living?

When I noticed the change Fuji was bringing about in me, I immediately felt that I was truly slowing down for the first time, but I’d never been interested in the concept of slow living before that. It’s part of a reaction against the fast pace imposed everywhere and began with the concept of slow food – as opposed to fast food – in Italy in the late 1980s.

However, that doesn’t mean you have to start baking your own bread or meditating for two hours a day in a minimalist home. It’s not a TikTok challenge that demands you be perfectly zen, perfectly natural, perfectly slow – and, ultimately, perfectly boring! Rather, it’s a way to reclaim your attention and take back control of your time. As K. Bouskill said in the TED Talk linked above: “If you’re lucky enough to decide the pace at which you want to travel through life, it’s a privilege – use it!”

Slowing Down Doesn’t Mean Becoming Inactive

Slowing down doesn’t mean stopping or lacking ambition. Rather, it’s about choosing your own pace instead of getting swept up in everyone else’s. It’s about being more present in what you’re doing. Doing fewer things at once. It’s about stopping measuring the value of a day solely by the number of tasks crossed off a list. Sometimes, it takes a cat staring at a hedge for 10 minutes to remind us that there’s no rush!

Nature as an Antidote to Immediacy

Nature has a quality that is deeply frustrating in our time: it doesn’t rush. Nature works differently. It imposes a different kind of time – a time in which things appear, disappear, return, and change subtly. A time that doesn’t need to be monetized to exist. And when we spend enough time outdoors – even in a neighborhood park – we breathe more easily. We see more clearly. We think differently.

The Luxury of Not Being Productive

One of the most interesting aspects of the slow life is its relationship to productivity. We’ve internalized the idea that every minute must be put to use so deeply that the simple act of producing nothing becomes uncomfortable. We’ve been taught to make our lives profitable, but it’s precisely those moments free of performance – when no one is evaluating us, rushing us, or comparing us – that allow us to stay on our feet. Slow time is not wasted time.

Slow Living and Aging: Slowing Down Without Disappearing

There is also a very interesting aspect to explore regarding aging. In a society obsessed with youth, slowing down can be misinterpreted. We too often associate speed with relevance: responding quickly, understanding quickly, adapting quickly, producing quickly. But what if slowing down was an act of clarity?

As we age, we often gain a better understanding of what deserves our energy. We become more selective, better able to recognize false priorities. Slow living, in this sense, isn’t a withdrawal from the world. It’s a reclaiming of power. It means: I’m not going to disappear, but I’m also not going to let myself be consumed just to prove that I’m still “in the loop.”

What Fuji Taught Me

Fuji knows nothing about slow living. She doesn’t have a life coach. She doesn’t read essays on mindfulness. She doesn’t have a vision board. And yet, she’s taught me so much. She just wants to feel the fence, watch the birds, keep an eye on the squirrels, and decide she’s not ready to go back inside. She’s taught me that some things don’t offer immediate rewards, but nourish us all the same – or that a walk can be a memorable experience. I haven’t become a paragon of serenity, but now when Fuji stops to look at something, I stop too – without any impatience! Thoreau said: “If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.” Slowing down doesn’t mean losing the rhythm; it’s more about choosing the music. But for me, my conductor often refuses to move forward.

What About You?

As you’ve gotten older, have you chosen to slow down, or did something lead you to do so? Are you now more selective about what’s worth your time? What seemingly “pointless” little moment really makes you feel good?

Schizophrenia is cruel – it sneaks up on its victims with the stealth of a mountain lion – set to pounce on its prey. It is cruel because it attacks in late adolescence just when independence is on the horizon. It strips away one’s confidence, dignity and spirit. Personalities shift – lively, engaging, social people turn into paranoid insomniacs, who crave withdrawal from the world we live in. Personal hygiene is compromised and alcohol and drugs become a bridge to self-medication. Schizophrenia is a desecrater, a saboteur, a spirit-crushing cancer of the mind.

Our Son

As a little boy and into his late teens Mike, our middle child, was a joy to be around. His bright blue eyes sparkled, and he always wore a smile on his face. Sometimes, he’d giggle and act silly, which only made him more endearing. He was a popular kid who loved his family and his friends. His favourite things were jumping on the backyard trampoline, his WWF wrestlers, and playing basketball on his school and community teams.

Changes in Behaviour

After Mike’s 17th birthday, significant behavioural changes began to surface. He started smoking marijuana and drunk alcohol to excess. His friends disappeared, one by one. School became a chore that he simply could not manage. His wonderful sense of humour died… he became remote, detached, and aloof. His personal cleanliness took a nosedive. Mike went from a well-groomed, well-dressed kid who happily showered every day, to someone who seemed not to care how he looked or how he smelled.

Self-Medicating

Since Mike was drinking excessively, we accepted that he may have become an alcoholic. But, when we started to overhear him shouting in the middle of the night, having a conversation with no one, we knew we were dealing with much more than alcoholism.

Mike developed an acute sense of paranoia, believing that his ex-girlfriend spray-painted derogatory graffiti on bridge decks downtown, all about him. He told outrageous stories of men who had taken his suitcase full of money, and he was desperate to track them down. We tried to reason with our son, pointing out the obvious flaws in his stories. But he believed them with his whole heart. That’s when his dad and I realized we were in way over our heads.

Doctors, Doctors and More Doctors

We made appointments with psychologists and psychiatrists. We poured out our hearts to strangers in a desperate attempt to figure out how we could help our son. The visits were filled with talk, talk, talk, no answers and no action. After painting the picture of the changes in our son and his ongoing bizarre behaviours, all the medical health professionals could focus on was Mike’s abuse of alcohol and drugs. No one suggested that our son could be suffering from a mental illness. Not once. Not ever.

Alcohol Rehabilitation

Multiple times, Mike sought help for alcoholism. Each time out of rehab, his dad and I were thrilled and excited to see our son’s shining face, the face we’d come to know and love so much. The cloudiness behind his eyes dissipated and he was our beautiful, beaming boy again. It was immensely gratifying. But without fail, the loneliness, self-loathing and “voices in his head” crept back into his life and out of desperation, he’d return to self-medicating.

Our Faith

Soul-searching, sleepless nights and a strong belief in God held us all together. We ploughed forward – after all, one never gives up on a child. By chance, my husband met a man that was establishing a new kind of drug and alcohol rehabilitation center, and he graciously volunteered to do an assessment on our son. Mike willingly submitted to yet another rehab assignment. There was no end to his resilience and strength and his desire to be himself again.

Diagnosis

After detox, Mike was put through a battery of tests in the facility. They found him to be suffering from a mental illness and determined a dual diagnosis approach to treatment could be effective. Finally! Someone cared enough to dig a little deeper. We were hopeful. Mike was recommended for a program that housed, cared for and supported the mentally ill. A psychiatrist working with the program formally diagnosed our son with schizophrenia. Although we were so grateful for the diagnosis, schizophrenia is a severe, extremely serious and debilitating mental illness. Mike had a long road ahead of him. But at last, he knew and we knew what we were dealing with.

A Home of His Own

Mike was placed into a decent and clean apartment, supported entirely by the kind souls that worked for the program. He loved his new home! He received life-changing medication by injection which he initially fled from but eventually accepted. It changed his life. He held down a steady job at a gas station near his apartment. He had an immediate group of friends; others that were in the program. He could walk to shopping or for coffee with one of his buddies. He became stable and was content for the first time in forever.

Welcome: Stability

We had eleven years of stability. Eleven years of Mike regularly attending Sunday family dinners. Eleven years of meeting him in front of the movie theatre to watch an afternoon film. Eleven years of analyzing Blue Jays baseball games with him. Each and every day during those eleven years, my husband and I thanked God and prayed that our boy would continue along this path of acceptance, healing and renewal. From our beautiful son, we lived and learned resilience.

Unravelling Physical Health

But Mike’s physical health began to deteriorate. Years and years of drinking alcohol to excess, and years and years of taking heavy psyche meds took its toll on his body. Mike left us on March 14, 2018, his soul lifted to heaven. Our hearts were shattered. Our lives altered forever. Our faith fills us with the knowledge that Mike is at peace and that we will be with him again one day. Eight years later, we’re still learning to live without him.

What Is Schizophrenia?

I can tell you what it is not. It is not “split personality.” It is not necessarily violent… not everyone with this cruel mental illness is a serial killer. Mike was never, ever violent. He was kind, caring, and compassionate to a fault, opening his heart to everyone he knew. We were so proud he was our son.

Please Join the Conversation:

Do you have a loved one or friend with mental illness? If so, how has it changed them? How does it all affect you and your relationship with them?

You may have noticed that with each year that passes, your holiday demands shift a little as different interests, energy levels and mindsets creep in. The need to tick off destinations from a list may have dissipated, but equally, as a mature traveller, holidays may have become more about seeking multi-layered authentic experiences, with comfort and the familiar balanced with more than a hint of gentle adventure.

Where do you stand on seeking adventure? Instead of disappearing completely, it’s not unusual for our sense of adventure to become slightly muted, leaving us, nonetheless, with a desire to push boundaries and experience something different while still enjoying a relaxing holiday. As a result, finding a destination such as Sicily, which balances familiarity with a touch of the unexpected, is always a bonus.

Sitting at the southern tip of Italy, the island is very much part of Italy, yet its geography, fascinating layered history and general atmosphere makes it stand out in no small way from the rest of mainland Italy.

Mediterranean Living – Familiar but Different

Who doesn’t love the Mediterranean lifestyle? Café culture, sunlit piazzas, olive groves and an outdoor lifestyle that stretches all the way from April to October is infinitely appealing. The peak summer months of July and August can be scorching but in May, June, September and October – often considered the best time to visit Sicily – life unfolds in the fresh air, in the local piazza, at cafés or in outdoor spaces where long lunches, slow evenings and a generally unhurried pace makes for the perfect relaxing holiday.

Exploring the local food scene is a big part of any holiday and while Italian food is certainly familiar, you’ll find some interesting twists in Sicily. Stay in a private villa and enjoy preparing food in an outdoor kitchen, where a hob and sink remove any need to go indoors, not even to make your post-lunch espresso!

In Sicily, the healthy Mediterranean diet – think tomatoes, olive oil, grains, fish – still dominates but Sicilian food is quite different to that of the tourist powerhouses of northern Italy such as Venice, Florence or Milan. Instead, thanks to the island’s location between Europe and Africa, its cuisine has strong echoes of the Middle East.

Get ready for Arab influenced couscous instead of pasta in western Sicily, and sweet and sour (‘agrodolce’) flavour combinations in dishes throughout the island such as the signature ‘caponata’ aubergine dish, sardines stuffed with hints of raisins and pine nuts, and salads featuring oranges and olives.

Delve Deep into Layers of History

If you’re familiar with the classic beauty and symmetrical perfection of architecture in northern Italy, you’ll immediately be struck by the more imperfect appearance of Sicilian towns. Towns are more haphazard in their layout, adapted over the centuries rather than planned at the outset. Wherever you turn you’ll find layers of history, often with multiple cultures encased in one building. In addition, buildings are designed to protect against the fierce heat of a Sicilian summer, with courtyards and honey-hued, sun-bleached exteriors.

But while Sicily may appear less polished, be prepared for unexpected dazzling displays of mosaics, elaborately ornate facades, and single buildings that reveal Greek, Roman, Arab and Norman influences.

Enjoy the Thrill of the Sicilian Landscape

Sicily’s landscape also differs from that of mainland Italy, volcanic in parts, with dry interior hills and, of course, mile upon mile of coastline. Even in towns and at historic attractions such as the Greek temple at Segesta, the sense of a less manicured feel than in Italy or elsewhere in Europe adds a rather raw, but distinctly authentic dimension.

There’s also plenty of opportunity to elevate your adventure-seeking leanings one step further with a jeep tour across the rugged volcanic slopes of Mount Etna or a hike in one of the mountain ranges in the north of the island. You’ll also find plenty of gentle adventure options that allow you to appreciate the landscape. Boat trips and wine tastings introduce you to hospitable locals, proud to show off their island; and cooking classes and visits to markets or local producers enrich your holiday with a deep dive into Sicilian food and culture.

Leave the Checklist Behind

In past years, you may have walked miles through the corridors of Florence’s Uffizi, gazed in awe at St. Peter’s in Rome, and dined on ‘cicchetti’ in Venice. Sicily is different – rather than presenting a checklist, a holiday here is about breathing in the atmosphere, mindless wandering or watching the world go by, and getting to know the island by burrowing through tightly packed layers rather than ticking off tourist sights.

It’s about settling into a different pace of life, one which removes the need to rush. Palermo, of course, as any capital city, has pockets of frenetic activity, but overall, Sicily is a place to settle into the rhythm of life and enjoy a quiet, enriching holiday without the often-overwhelming demands found in busier, more developed tourist destinations.

Questions for You:

How adventurous are you on holiday? Where would you recommend for gentle adventure? Have you ever visited Sicily?