Man has always looked for a new way to do everything. It doesn’t matter what it is, whether it is growing food, building a home, or just getting from one place to another, man tries to find another way. We call it making progress and tout our success and how ingenious we are. Then after having accomplished that we often sit and discuss how everything was better in the old days. Old time craftmanship is admired and in general, everything was just better.
What mankind is really doing is looking for an easier way. That’s the truth of the matter, we want to do it quicker with less work. Was a time when your work was also your leisure. Yes, we look back at that and call it pride. We were proud to be farmers, mechanics, carpenters or whatever. Our occupation provided us with that satisfaction. The objective wasn’t to simply get the job done so we could relax, the objective was to do the job as good as we possibly could. Now progress has been made, we obtain our degrees and certificates and consider that as proof enough of occupational competency. See, I have the paper to prove it.
No doubt we have made life easier. No doubt that we are far more efficient and have created a great deal more leisure time for ourselves. I wonder though if we haven’t lost a connection along the way. What I mean, that connection to our inner self. Have we become so anxious to relax and enjoy ourselves that we have forgotten how to relax and enjoy ourselves? Even our leisure activities now need to be “professional” grade skills. I’m thinking we have lost that childlike enjoyment we used to get from our leisure time. A time when we weren’t aware of any responsibilities. That’s how it is when you are a child.
When we were children a stick could become Excalibur and we could be a knight. And that was all that was required, a stick and imagination. No need for props, for a venue, or a script and plot. Any open lot could be a baseball stadium and a puddle become the ocean. Today, somehow, we have reached a level where our leisure activities require so much more. We need to take lessons, online classes and study the history of whatever it we are doing. We need the proper equipment, clothing and training in order to participate. There are no amateurs! We must all be professionals.
We’ve all heard it said, life is so much faster now. That’s true, and that’s the way man has made it. All our machinery, our labor saving devices, and progress has given us all a sense of urgency. In general, we are not as patient as we once were. What we are lacking is, anticipation. Yes, anticipation. What do we have to look forward to? Is it really just to retire, to do those leisure activities full time. That seems to be the goal I hear most often. Well, that and making a difference. We have traded anticipation, for expectation.
The thing about expectation is that you are often disappointed. I was told, expect nothing and you won’t be disappointed. I have found that to be a true statement, although it is difficult to practice. I can honestly say that when I was a kid, anticipating my birthday, Christmas or whatever event or activity was planned, I was never disappointed. I was disappointed when it didn’t happen for whatever reason, but never disappointed when it did.
That was because I didn’t expect much. As I grew older I began expecting things. When those things didn’t happen as expected, I became just a bit more cynical. It’s something I try to guard against, but it goes increasingly difficult. The evidence is before me and I find it hard to dispute at times. Ethics, morality and political ideology all play into that. To control any cynicism that creeps in I realize I have to lower my expectations. Perhaps I do expect too much from others. Or, it could be they expect more of me. Nah, I’m good.
An aging man living in a confusing world. I was born and raised in East Hampton, yes “the Hamptons” but not rich, not famous and definitely not woke. These are my thoughts, my memories and my opinions. Just the stuff of the regular Joe.
Man has always looked for a new way to do everything. It doesn’t matter what it is, whether it is growing food, building a home, or just getting from one place to another, man tries to find another way. We call it making progress and tout our success and how ingenious we are. Then after having accomplished that we often sit and discuss how everything was better in the old days. Old time craftmanship is admired and in general, everything was just better.
What mankind is really doing is looking for an easier way. That’s the truth of the matter, we want to do it quicker with less work. Was a time when your work was also your leisure. Yes, we look back at that and call it pride. We were proud to be farmers, mechanics, carpenters or whatever. Our occupation provided us with that satisfaction. The objective wasn’t to simply get the job done so we could relax, the objective was to do the job as good as we possibly could. Now progress has been made, we obtain our degrees and certificates and consider that as proof enough of occupational competency. See, I have the paper to prove it.
No doubt we have made life easier. No doubt that we are far more efficient and have created a great deal more leisure time for ourselves. I wonder though if we haven’t lost a connection along the way. What I mean, that connection to our inner self. Have we become so anxious to relax and enjoy ourselves that we have forgotten how to relax and enjoy ourselves? Even our leisure activities now need to be “professional” grade skills. I’m thinking we have lost that childlike enjoyment we used to get from our leisure time. A time when we weren’t aware of any responsibilities. That’s how it is when you are a child.
When we were children a stick could become Excalibur and we could be a knight. And that was all that was required, a stick and imagination. No need for props, for a venue, or a script and plot. Any open lot could be a baseball stadium and a puddle become the ocean. Today, somehow, we have reached a level where our leisure activities require so much more. We need to take lessons, online classes and study the history of whatever it we are doing. We need the proper equipment, clothing and training in order to participate. There are no amateurs! We must all be professionals.
We’ve all heard it said, life is so much faster now. That’s true, and that’s the way man has made it. All our machinery, our labor saving devices, and progress has given us all a sense of urgency. In general, we are not as patient as we once were. What we are lacking is, anticipation. Yes, anticipation. What do we have to look forward to? Is it really just to retire, to do those leisure activities full time. That seems to be the goal I hear most often. Well, that and making a difference. We have traded anticipation, for expectation.
The thing about expectation is that you are often disappointed. I was told, expect nothing and you won’t be disappointed. I have found that to be a true statement, although it is difficult to practice. I can honestly say that when I was a kid, anticipating my birthday, Christmas or whatever event or activity was planned, I was never disappointed. I was disappointed when it didn’t happen for whatever reason, but never disappointed when it did.
That was because I didn’t expect much. As I grew older I began expecting things. When those things didn’t happen as expected, I became just a bit more cynical. It’s something I try to guard against, but it goes increasingly difficult. The evidence is before me and I find it hard to dispute at times. Ethics, morality and political ideology all play into that. To control any cynicism that creeps in I realize I have to lower my expectations. Perhaps I do expect too much from others. Or, it could be they expect more of me. Nah, I’m good.
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Man has always looked for a new way to do everything. It doesn’t matter what it is, whether it is growing food, building a home, or just getting from one place to another, man tries to find another way. We call it making progress and tout our success and how ingenious we are. Then after having accomplished that we often sit and discuss how everything was better in the old days. Old time craftmanship is admired and in general, everything was just better.
What mankind is really doing is looking for an easier way. That’s the truth of the matter, we want to do it quicker with less work. Was a time when your work was also your leisure. Yes, we look back at that and call it pride. We were proud to be farmers, mechanics, carpenters or whatever. Our occupation provided us with that satisfaction. The objective wasn’t to simply get the job done so we could relax, the objective was to do the job as good as we possibly could. Now progress has been made, we obtain our degrees and certificates and consider that as proof enough of occupational competency. See, I have the paper to prove it.
No doubt we have made life easier. No doubt that we are far more efficient and have created a great deal more leisure time for ourselves. I wonder though if we haven’t lost a connection along the way. What I mean, that connection to our inner self. Have we become so anxious to relax and enjoy ourselves that we have forgotten how to relax and enjoy ourselves? Even our leisure activities now need to be “professional” grade skills. I’m thinking we have lost that childlike enjoyment we used to get from our leisure time. A time when we weren’t aware of any responsibilities. That’s how it is when you are a child.
When we were children a stick could become Excalibur and we could be a knight. And that was all that was required, a stick and imagination. No need for props, for a venue, or a script and plot. Any open lot could be a baseball stadium and a puddle become the ocean. Today, somehow, we have reached a level where our leisure activities require so much more. We need to take lessons, online classes and study the history of whatever it we are doing. We need the proper equipment, clothing and training in order to participate. There are no amateurs! We must all be professionals.
We’ve all heard it said, life is so much faster now. That’s true, and that’s the way man has made it. All our machinery, our labor saving devices, and progress has given us all a sense of urgency. In general, we are not as patient as we once were. What we are lacking is, anticipation. Yes, anticipation. What do we have to look forward to? Is it really just to retire, to do those leisure activities full time. That seems to be the goal I hear most often. Well, that and making a difference. We have traded anticipation, for expectation.
The thing about expectation is that you are often disappointed. I was told, expect nothing and you won’t be disappointed. I have found that to be a true statement, although it is difficult to practice. I can honestly say that when I was a kid, anticipating my birthday, Christmas or whatever event or activity was planned, I was never disappointed. I was disappointed when it didn’t happen for whatever reason, but never disappointed when it did.
That was because I didn’t expect much. As I grew older I began expecting things. When those things didn’t happen as expected, I became just a bit more cynical. It’s something I try to guard against, but it goes increasingly difficult. The evidence is before me and I find it hard to dispute at times. Ethics, morality and political ideology all play into that. To control any cynicism that creeps in I realize I have to lower my expectations. Perhaps I do expect too much from others. Or, it could be they expect more of me. Nah, I’m good.
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