When Life Becomes the Teacher (4): The Practice of Slowing Down

An unexpected decision kept me in Germany longer than planned - staying with my father after my mother’s passing. It was, of course, a time of sadness and mourning. And at the very same time, it became something else as well.

Unplanned time opened up. Time for friends and family in ways my normal life rarely allows. I met Indian friends in Freiburg for a joyful afternoon.
I went for my first solo walk with my grandchild in Munich. And I went to Oktoberfest with my sister, Silke Reitz.

I attended a concert by Xavier Rudd - an artist I never imagined I would see live, suddenly playing just an hour away. I baked my own birthday cake something I simply don’t have time to do in India.  I spent my birthday at Europa Park, surrounded by laughter.

I travelled with my father to Munich and had dinner at the restaurant where my son Leander B. works as a chef - our first time experiencing him in that role.  We went for evening walks together in the sun. I met my uncle and his family and had a phantastic Paella.

And many more moments that don’t look dramatic from the outside - but were deeply nourishing.  Why am I sharing this? Because what struck me was not just the contrast between grief and joy. It was the realization of how rarely we allow ourselves the conditions for such moments.

Each encounter - with family, friends, different generations - was full of learning. Quiet wisdom. Insights into human development, into friendship, into what community actually gives us when we are present enough to receive it.  None of this was planned for “growth.” And yet, it was profoundly developmental.

As leaders, we often speak about renewal, resilience, and energy. But too often, we wait until life forces us to slow down. What if we didn’t?

What if we created space for these moments consciously - not as compensation after exhaustion, but as a regular part of how we live and lead? Slowing down is not stepping away from leadership. It is remembering what leadership is nourished by.