Do you ever feel as if you were born in the wrong century? I do......quite often in fact. Lately I've been trying to figure out why, and with careful contemplation, I believe I've hit on something. Simplicity. Though I thought today's article was going to touch on "what was"......it seemed more appropriate to elaborate on what it really meant, at least to me. First of all, there is no doubt in my mind that there are many like myself, who believe that "high tech" is for the birds. After all, what is wrong with cooking on the stovetop, writing "real" letters, watching one t.v. with 3 channels, and talking on a phone that has a cord attached to the wall? Hey.....for me....nothing at all. I love it. There is also no doubt that if I didn't have this computer at my disposal.....I would still be writing using a typewriter or better yet.......a pen.
Maybe the reason I am so bothered by this idea of living in a "high tech" world, is not so much the change that was brought about.....but what the change did to our brains. As the world progressed, it forced our brains to progress into believing the new gadgets, thoughts, inventions,....etc......demanded one thing that really leaves me raw.......busyness. Not business........busy-ness. Huge difference, and of course, sticking to the neverending need to find true meaning, I have to ask Webster about this one. Busyness.....Having too much detail, variety of color....as to create a confusing, displeasing effect. Wow......that pretty much nails it in my book, epecially the confusing and displeasing part.
I can't tell you how many times a day I hear someone say.......I am just so busy......too busy. As if someone has them tied to something and they can't get free.......they have no control. Now I'm sorry.....but the one thing here that stands out to me is......lack of control. After all......one does have some control over how busy they allow themselves to be. The puzzling part is, having the need to continue to add to instead of taking away.......well at least puzzling to most of the people I know. Either I have something right....that no one else "gets", or I am totally out of touch with the real world and what it takes to live in it. It could be because of my physical limitations, I am forced to live a very simple and quiet life, that has nothing to do with busyness. So being in such an extreme position.....it's hard for me to understand.
The people around me quite often say they envy my life. Though of course have no clue as to how much that lifestyle cost. And of course I am not suggesting that everyone go out and get themselves an illness......available at any local sundry store. But what I am wondering is......why can't there be some sort of balance here? Why can't there be a declaration of what is not needed in someone's life..........that takes up too much space, energy and time? Thank God we are at this time being forced to "go green." I'm hoping and praying that it will slow down the pace.....which I see from the news is already starting to happen. People are making the decision to stay home instead of using gas and money to travel....which of course in turn gives families a new way of looking at their own home and backyard as a haven in which to relax and enjoy. No rafts, tickets or credit cards needed.
Honestly, I could very well point the finger at societal demands and expectations of how we are to live in this world......but that would mean that we are basically allowing that same "society" to dictate how we spend our time. All the infamous gadgets that are supposed to save us time, in fact force us to figure out how to fill up that time. Of course my question is......why can't we just sit back and relax with that extra time? There it is.......the meat. Were we so lacking, boring, and uncreative back in the 20th century or what? What is it that we are trying to prove here? That we can stand on one foot while driving that big SUV.......that we can juggle in the kitchen while feeding three children and a husband three different meals, at three different times......that we can buy what we want because we have a pocket full of credit cards.....that we can eat what we want and not gain weight......have a healthy body without exercise?
Trust me....I was only able to try on a few of those and it didn't work for me. My body couldn't take it.......so I sit back and watch people turning what could be so much simpler, into chaos, confusion, frustration and most often....exhaustion and unhappiness. Can I fix it? No....not likely. Can I expect everyone to live as I live......no...not likely. But I can ask you one question? Would the world come to an end or would you feel as if you had slipped off the merry-go-round if you just started to simplify your life? Look what it took for people to start paying attention to the energy crisis. All the while, listening to those out there who are appalled at the gas prices, and wondering why and what they were going to do about it. Never taking one moment to see, that in order for change to take place, or for people to actually take action, something had to be taken away.
Hmmmmm.....like someone dying. You don't appreciate someone until they die. How sad is that? And then when they do, you think, how unfair is that...or why did they die? Totally takes away from the issue doesn't it? The fact is....they died.......they're gone. You cannot change that, and it's sad if you have to experience regret of any kind. If there was change to have taken place, what would the change have been?
My point is, what is so wrong about recognizing that if you are in fact confused, frustrated or aggravated by the busyness or chaos in your life, you actually have the power to change it. You can make it as complicated as you want.....or as simple as you want.
