{"id":172022,"date":"2024-10-02T15:31:19","date_gmt":"2024-10-02T13:31:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=172022"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:27:30","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:27:30","slug":"the-art-of-slowing-down","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2024\/10\/02\/the-art-of-slowing-down\/","title":{"rendered":"The art of slowing down"},"content":{"rendered":"

It feels like only yesterday that I was asked if I wanted to share my <\/span>thoughts in the form of columns for Erasmus Magazine. At first, I <\/span>doubted<\/span><\/a> whether I could do it, but I took on the challenge anyway.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLevien Willemse<\/a>, \t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPauline Wiersema<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

It began with sharing my ideas on science, education and societal issues. I <\/span>wrote about the <\/span>alcohol policy<\/span><\/a> on campus, <\/span>thesis supervision<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>and <\/span>time-<\/span>consuming grant applications<\/span><\/a>, among other things. As my list of topics <\/span>grew shorter, I noticed I was developing a new skill: the art of observation.<\/span><\/p>\n

In a society where we strive for efficiency, we sometimes lose sight of the <\/span>art of observation. In our daily routines, we rush due to obligations, get <\/span>distracted by our phones, and forget to observe what is happening right in <\/span>front of us. While writing columns and taking the time to truly \u2018see\u2019 topics, <\/span>everyday experiences suddenly turned into potential sources of <\/span>inspiration. Brief encounters, such as a conversation with a student about <\/span>the future or a colleague\u2019s question <\/span>about identity<\/span><\/a> at the coffee machine, <\/span>began to fuel my ideas. I consciously paused, listened, looked and felt. I <\/span>discovered that there are stories everywhere, just waiting to be written \u2013 if <\/span>you just take a moment to slow down.<\/span><\/p>\n

The columns also gave me space to reflect on how I think and feel about <\/span>certain topics. At the same time, they pushed me to deeply consider my <\/span>work, my role and relevant themes in the academic world. This helped me <\/span>take a stance, convey nuance, or, conversely, leave room for doubt.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is my final column for Erasmus Magazine, and I close this process <\/span>with gratitude. It has been a valuable learning experience, and I will not forget the art of slowing down and observing. In the lecture hall, during conversations with students, or simply in everyday life, valuable insights are hidden in small details \u2013 as long as you simply take the time to notice and reflect on them.
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Thank you for reading.<\/p>\n\n\t

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