Why do we make things so complicated?

When we go to clean a bench top why is it that we think its easier and simpler to get in a car that was manufacturered overseas (using numerous parts and resources)  and shipped here, filled the fuel that was mined from the earth and shipped hear to buy a product from the supermarket that is usually imported made of all sorts of unknown chemicals that have been invented in chemistry labs and then mixed together to make your woinderful clearer, in a boittle that usually says its recyclable but in reality, as we have all learnt from reading this blog its only downcycled and will eventually end up in landfill when we could stay at home pull out a bulk bottle of vinegar or some baking soda and a little environmentally firendly dishwashing liquid and solve most of our cleaning issues in the kitchen.  Surely when you look at the whole process this is much simplier.

Why is it we think its better to take our kids to an indoor playground  so we can have some time out rather than sending them outside to play with the neighbours kids (or inviting friends around)  and letting them climb all over the fences and trees, ride bikes and  so on and having the coffee/chat and timeout in a neighbourhood environment.  Here we have saved money, fuel and given our kids some vitamin D as well as exercise and had some time out too and has built on local community.

Why is it that we join an expensive gym, that is likely to be a car ride away to exercise, when we could pull out a bike, pull on some running shoes, grab a friend and get out and keep fit, meet the community and get some vitamin D.  Why do we need flash exercise equipment to strengthen muscles when we could actually do that by doing more physical work such as gardening, helping out around the neighbourhood with some odd jobs and so on.  Save money, reduce carbon footprint, build community and build fitness. 

Why is it that we drive our kids to school and pick them up everyday?  Perhaps we are rushing to work, perhaps they have an after school activity to go to, perhaps we think its too far to walk (hmmm - remember what our grandmas used to say............."we walked 2 miles to school (over 3km) in all weather and home again"...............).  The kids might whinge the first few times but they will come to love it.  Perhaps we can work out a way - if we are rushing to work for example,  we could organise a neighbourly walking school bus, so that you do the shift once a week and work longer on another day.  Perhaps we could do the school run each day and forgo the gym membership which takes up time at another point as the daily walk = increased fitness, perhaps we can consolidate those after school activities or make sure they are done within the community. If the community doesn't offer the activity, find a way to make it happen.  For most activities you don't need much - an enthusiastic leader/tutor, a basic facility and a bit of gear.  There are plenty of ways to apply for funding and if its  community iniative, then the community may be very happy to fund it. 

Why do we buy pre-packaged biscuits from the supermarket, that have long ingredient lists of often unknown origin and effect, covered in plastic and sitting in a plastic tray when we can bake our own from simple less processed known ingredients, that we can usually source in paper packaging and produce a far tastier result, that we know what they contain and that we will share with friends, therefore continuing to build community. 

I am sure you can think of other things we do that are actually quite complex - that are perhaps considered a privilege of western society and consumerism that are actually adding to stress, environmental impact, reduction in community spirit.

Part of the problem of course is the complicated is presented as simple and the simple as complicated.   It appears easier to jump in the car than walk, until you consider the whole picture from vehicle and fuel sourcing to the impact of driving on the environment and you personally

The same goes for the cleaning product, the indoor playground and the multitudes of other things you can think of.

Its easier to choose a plastic bag than say no, its easier to just take the plastic bag that has "biodegradable" written all over it than say hey, you know those things are bad because.......until you consider the whole system and problem........then its actually simpler to make good choices and share them with everyone.

Take a look at some of your weekly habits. Think about what the end result of it is eg the goal of increased fitness and then consider how that same goal could be achieved in another way that might reduce costs, reduce environmental impact and build community.  I am sure each and everyone of us can find one thing that we can do that will achieve all of that in one foul swoop.  

Have a great weekend and enjoy simplifying your life.
Francesca