Staying Still In A Restless World

Driving is such a unglamorous activity for me. I find it to be everything I want to get away from. The need to care about what everyone else is doing to ensure your safety, and the rise in my temper when people are either too slow (on the overtaking lane) or not paying attention to the road because they are busy on their phones. It made me think of all the things I would want to write off if I could.

Of course, the development of technology, medicine, AI and everything else has brought myriad of benefits but have we collectively become something else completely? It seems to me that we are slowly moving away from our humanity and towards this robotic, individualistic world that is not doing our physical and mental health any favours.

Wouldn't it be fabulous if we could spend time actually present with the people who are in front of us, whether that is our partner, children, extended family, friends or colleagues? Even when we are by ourselves, there is always something to distract us. Television, books, YouTube or good old-fashioned social media. Our brains are not getting a break to think for ourselves. We are fed thousands of opinions and then some.

And we travel now more than ever. My maternal grandparents died without ever leaving the country and they led such a good life. They wanted very little and were content with their small, slow life. Living their daily routine for all their lives was enough for them and I wonder why we feel the "need" to travel.

Is there anything wrong with not getting the "reward"? Maybe we should build lives we are so happy with that we do not feel the need to "escape". What would that look like?

• Have a job that only pays enough to meet your needs.

• Giving up on material items like designer brands and luxury cars.

• No travelling for leisure.

• Cooking at home and dining out as a treat only a few times a year for birthdays and anniversaries.

• Not updating phones every couple of years.

• Mending clothes and shoes instead of discarding them.

• Repeating the same outfits all the time.

• Not shopping as a distraction, stress relief, or from boredom.

• Taking care of and appreciating the things you do have.

• Not spending a lot of money for a gym subscription.

• Less "spring cleaning", decluttering, organisation, and needing storage as you only have what you need.

• Using up everything you buy.

• Less of everything. Instead of 30 lipsticks, you may only have 5.

• Not spending 5 hours a day on the phone.

• Paying attention to and acknowledging our thoughts and feelings instead of just picking the phone up.

• Making eye contact, listening to people when they are talking, and being present for their needs.

Reading this list makes me so happy that I might implement some or most of them. What are some things that you want to reduce in your life to enhance other aspects?