Overload


We are, in this modern day world, overloaded with information.  Often, what we hear one day, and told its an absolute,  we hear a week, a month or a year later, that it is not true.   One just has to use salt as an example.  We were told for years to stay away from salt.  Bad for our blood pressure and now we are being told, not having any salt is a negative for our coronary health.   We are bombarded with studies that show just about everything we do is not what we should be doing.    Standing in line at the grocery store, the magazine racks are filled with conflict.  One says this, and another says the opposite.  We are pulled in a hundred directions.   There is little peace in paying attention to what each study points to, simply because next year they will change their minds and often the data is manipulated to stress the point made.  Manipulation can be simply leaving out information that shows contrary results.   We just completed a series of lectures where not all the information was up to date and some relevant studies were not addressed.
Even with religion, people seem to want to complicate it.   We honestly don't need a thousand books or opinions on how to interpret what we can read ourselves. 
Living simply, requires us to not listen to all the chatter out there in the world.  All the conflict, the studies funded by this or that industry.   What I love about the plain life and frankly miss it terribly is that the outside influences are next to none.  The computer I write on is also a tool for looking up a zillion things that I would be better off not having overload my brain.  Not being an Ostrich with my head in the sand, but living with a single purpose, defined by what I believe in.  Not being tossed around on the waves of this kind of eating vs that kind of eating.  This kind of lifestyle vs that kind of lifestyle.  Buying this kind of gadget because it can do what you have been doing, only 1 millisecond faster according to the ad.
We have complicated our lives beyond what we should.   How many of you have restocked your pantry simply because you read or heard about a new way of eating that is guaranteed to change your life ?   How many of you have felt your kitchen was no longer functional because it was called "outdated" by the standards set forth by a store, a television show or a magazine photo ?   Think back to your great grandmother, did she ever consider having her kitchen done over every 10 years and get rid of a stove or counter tops because they looked "outdated" ?  Was her cooking inferior to yours because she didn't have an all stainless kitchen ?  We have simply complicated our lives and spent way too much money by the dictates of all the latest fads.  My fancy new drapes have not changed my life in one single way, other than make me worry that the wood stove may get some soot on them this winter.  I hate to take them down for the winter, since we spent so much money on them, but I sure don't want to have to have them dry cleaned !  Makes me wish for my home made, machine washable curtains once again.  I feel overloaded this week regarding what the healthiest diet for my family is.  Came to a conclusion last night.  Its really quite simple.  Eat good food, food as grown, Michael Pollan style eating and exercise like they did back in the olden days, with purpose.  Walk a lot, work a lot in the garden and pray without ceasing for a life pleasing to God.

Comments

Unknown said…
Beautiful read this morning!
Words of wisdom, Patty!
God bless, Kathy in Illinois
Anonymous said…
This is the way to live. Thank you!

Maria
Some of the eating plans such as CHIPS may show us how to integrate some useful changes. I've come to think that unless we have some known health issues which require very strict diets, we can use common sense to choose healthy meals--without falling apart over the occaisional 'treat.'
I've learned through the years that some of the good foods which agree with most people cause me some problems, so I either eat them in small quantities or select alternatives. There are those who have different preferences, for whatever reason, who may try to make us feel 'guilty' or unenlightened if our choices differ from their own, be it in food, dress, or how we furnish our homes.
I think simpler is better in most respects, yet I don't want the lifestyle of our Amish and Mennonite neighbors.
Thank God for the freedom to make choices!
My closest friend and I were having a conversation, yesterday,wondering what happened to "common sense". We seem to flock to whatever we see in magazines, on HGTV, cooking shows, etc. The masses flock to the newest trend in decorating, diet, etc. My grandparents lived to be in their late eighties and ninety. They didn't care about trends, because they were too busy rearing children, working and trying to make ends meet. They were happy, confident, industrious, and didn't have an attitude of greed or entitlement.
I see some young families trying to live within their means, working hard, and putting God and family first, but unfortunately they seem to be in the minority.
Things can't make us happy, and what is popular today will be out of fashion in a few years.

Your blog entry, today, is definitely food for thought.
nancyr

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