There is no doubt about it, the world is changing at a rapid pace. Some of the changes are good (smartphones), some are terrifying (3D horror flicks) and some are a nuisance (airport security) – but change just keeps on rolling.
Our children seem to adapt well to this world we’ve made for them – they probably look upon the pre-internet, pre-iPhone era as ‘the olden days’ and marvel at how we ever got anything done (how did we?).
We are a race that wants more – and seem not to know when enough is enough. There’s a reason why (apparently) 1% of us have everything we could dream of and the other 99% just wants, wants wants it all (and strives like crazy to get it). It’s the same reason why the developed world has an obesity problem and the rest of the world is starving. It’s as though appetite has overruled intelligence.
In fact, appetite appears to be a by-product of civilisation and ‘progress’. With agriculture came settlement; with settlement came increased fertility; with more babies came more roles within the community (we can’t all be farmers, right?) – we got more creative, we built things, then we built things to go with those things, and so on.. we found out what it was like to go without, and got scared and started squirrelling things away ‘for a rainy day’. Fast forward to today, when the developed world is dependent on systems of every kind, and is bloated & diseased.
What if we decided to have less? What if we looked at what we have already and decide that it’s enough? I’ve decided to try it – starting with simple things like food; studies show that eating 40-60% less is the key to living longer and healthier (you can read about that on Dr Michael R Eades’ website). I’ve also cut back hours at work. I’ll have less money, fewer chances at a ‘dynamic career’, but I’ll be happier and have time to live and enjoy my children.
It’s a cliche, but it seems truer than ever – the only thing we really need more of is love.
What do you think Mamas? xxx
3 comments
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November 7, 2011 at 5:31 pm
Diane Lee
You are spot on, Dan & I am a huge fan of being a strategic quitter. This isn’t so much about doing with less, but stopping doing what isn’t working for me at a particular point in time. I think persistence and tenacity is over-rated, and while I admire people who perservere against the odds, it’s not for me. I think your doing less is along similar lines and is about reclaiming your life to make room for what’s really important. And bravo!
November 7, 2011 at 5:41 pm
Danae Sinclair
I love ‘strategic quitting’ – it is a sign of intelligence to be able to check in with yourself and ask ‘is this working?’ ‘is this what I need right now?’ instead of unconsciously following the flock (we are supposed to be the shepherds, not the sheep).
Reclaiming life is very rewarding, isn’t it?!
Thanks Di
November 12, 2011 at 9:46 pm
Robyn M L
I’ve been strategically applying it all my life, Avoiding (the ‘rat race’ ) that is…and the finale has arrived.
You may not have that ‘dynamic career’ Dan, but I know you would rather have a ‘dynamic’ Dan/ Mama.