The Polako Principle: Lessons on Living from the Mediterranean

Here in the Balkans, you will often hear the word polako. It translates to slowly or take it easy, but its meaning is much deeper. Polako is a conscious rejection of haste. It is the permission to savor a moment, to finish a conversation without glancing at your watch, to do one thing at a time with your full attention. It’s not about being unproductive; it’s about understanding that a relentless pace leads to burnout, not brilliance, and that the most important things in life—relationships, good food, peace of mind—cannot be rushed.