Were we really meant to live like this? Life used to be so much simpler.
The power went out last night. As I was searching for flashlights, candles
and matches I realized how dependent I am on electronic gadgets. No TV, no internet, no lights, no microwave,
no stove. It was getting dark, I needed
to make dinner, and it really got me thinking about what people did before
electricity once it got dark.
The only light would have come from candles and/or lanterns. Stoves and furnaces would need wood or
coal. Air conditioning, uh… nope. Icebox for anything cold. I guess at night you either went to bed or
read by candlelight… maybe hung out and had a conversation.
Humans are a funny species.
As children we basically do whatever we want for a while, at least until
school starts, then we start to get a regimented routine going. This follows most of us into the workforce
when we leave school and get a job, where we spend most of our lives until we
retire and basically do whatever we want for a while again.
What if we shrunk everything down and didn’t need so much
stuff, wouldn’t life be simpler? I think
it certainly would, but would that necessarily be better? Maybe not.
Live in a small house, no electronics, no car, low overhead. If we learned to live simply we might live
more enriched lives. Or is it more
enriching to be a part of all the technical gadgetry that has become available
to us?
I’m not sure there’s a right or wrong answer here. I’ve got people inside my head voting for
both sides and neither would win by a landslide. Perhaps moderation is the key – keeping a
balance between simplicity and technology.
I don’t know.
I do know that I was greatly relieved when the power came
back on. Flipping a light switch and
having it turn the light on after a blackout is a great feeling.
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