We humans tend to overcomplicate things.
Sure the world has gotten a lot more complicated the last few decades. Technology alone has increased the amount of information available to each of us by millions. As a child, all the information available sat on a single book shelf in the 15-volume encyclopedia. Now, Google has hundreds of thousands of pages on any single topic.
And as the amount of information available increased, the number of options or choices has increased a thousand-fold.
Less than a hundred and fifty years ago, American settlers crossed the country in a wagon to start a new life. They only had a few tools, some blankets, and what remained of a fifty pound sack of flour. All they really had was the love of a husband and wife and children, a willingness to work hard, and a dream of creating a better future.
I’m guessing the number of choices we make in a typical hour are equal to the number of choices a settler made in a week.
Somewhere along the path of the last century the meaning of living has been lost.
Somehow all the advancements in travel, convenience, and technology have diminished our ability to focus on what’s important.
Love. Hard work. A dream for a better tomorrow. Where have you gone?
During the last six months I’m less fascinated and less inclined to spend long amounts of time on Facebook. It’s hard to keep up with a thousand-plus friends. Many of whom I’ve never met.
The election cycle of the last year and a half was simultaneously riveting, predictable, and disgusting. Talk about making the simple complex – and failing to address what’s important. I’m glad it’s over. Can I now simply go and live my life?
I find myself at a turning point. Do I continue down the path of complexity? … or take a turn towards simplicity?
Do I want more options? … and more information? … and more choices in my life?
Or
- Do I want more peace? Love?
- Do I want to be more honest? Stop looking for shortcuts? Simply work hard?
- Do I want to pursue my dream for a better, simpler tomorrow?
I find myself drifting towards simple. Complex is becoming meaningless.