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Where Did Our Simple Joys Go?
Why I miss having to buy a newspaper
Call me naive, but lately, I’ve been thinking about all the simple things we’ve lost with all the complicated things we’ve gained. All the anxieties we’ve developed while trying to stay on top of progress and and all the simple moments stolen by technology.
It’s never been harder to relax than in today’s hyper-stimulating reality, and “joy” is the last word that comes to mind for most of us when thinking about modern-day America.
For some of us, the distractions are a welcome escape from reality. But for others, myself included, they’re just that — distractions from the important things in life.
So here are some of the simple joys I miss (that didn’t feel like joys when I had them).
The simple joy of waiting by the (actual) phone.
The simple joy of walking to the payphone.
The simple joy of long phone conversations.
The simple joy of knocking on your neighbor’s door to borrow salt.
The simple joy of having to see your friends in person to find out what they’re up to.
The simple joy of having long, unhurried conversations.
