Last Updated on December 6, 2021
We are all children of the age to which we are born. The times in which we live would never be described as simple. One might suggest that every generation adds more complexity to life than the one preceding them. Even so, every few generations, there is a revolt against the march of progress. Some significant portion of society believes they have gone too far and need to reign it back in. Things have gotten out of control and become too complicated to manage. They try to revert to a simpler time. These efforts inevitably fail every time. Progress will not be halted because of our discomfort with it.
That said, it is possible to roll back the clock in small ways among small groups. Mennonites can still be seen moving about town on their horse and buggy. But the teens have theirs equipped with radios and boomboxes. Some people push back against texting. They insist on picking up the phone and leaving a message. Others push back even further and take to their pen and paper to write a letter. Thankfully, no one is pushing it all the way back to smoke signals. But all that pushback does remind us that sometimes, the simpler thing is the better thing. Here is where one can find real benefits in greater simplicity.
Sensible Shoes
With all due respect to Robin Williams, there is nothing funny about women who wear sensible shoes. If you want to avoid many painful issues with your feet, you will want to have a sensible collection of flat shoes. If you have heel pain, plantar fasciitis, bunions, corns, or other issues with your feet, it could be explained by the fashionable, expensive, and impractical shoes in your closet.
When you revert your choice of shoes to something simpler, you can start to live a life with less pain. There is nothing wrong with showing off a nice pedicure if that is something you’re into. But there are smart ways to do it that don’t lead to long-term damage to your feet. If you think about the natural shape of a person’s foot, there are certain forms that work naturally with that shape. It is pretty obvious when you are dealing with a shoe that works against that shape. When evaluating your next pair of shoes, fall back on your simpler and more natural observations with regard to whether it will mold to your foot, or if it will force your foot to do the molding. If the latter, walk away.
Simpler Meals
Legumes are natural, plentiful, inexpensive, delicious, healthy, and simple. If you have an Instant Pot and are up to trying an Instant Pot black-eyed peas recipe that is flavorful and simple, you can have a home-cooked meal for pennies on the dollar and next to no work at all.
Good food does not have to be complicated. In fact, the more complication you add to meal prep, the worse it often is for you. The problem for the modern age is that simple isn’t always quick. It takes longer to cut, chop, slice, and peel than it does to just toss something into a food processor. But by the time you have processed the food to within an inch of its life, it might not be worth eating anymore. The simplicity of preparation usually preserves what is great about the food you are planning to eat. When it comes to food prep, simpler is often better.
Playtime
We have complicated playtime to the point that it is something many kids don’t even want to do anymore. If the play involves batteries or a plug, it is time to roll the clock back to a simpler time. Some communities still invest in playgrounds. There was a time when this investment was not required. A playground was any patch of grass where a few kids came together with a ball and an idea for how to chase it. To this day, nothing builds healthier and more social kids than good old-fashioned play.
Of course, the smartphone is here to stay and there is no going back. Nor should we. But consider the simpler options when it comes to footwear that doesn’t mangle your feet, food that won’t make you ill, and playtime that won’t make you lazy.
