life is simple, we as humans are making it complicated. i also miss the '90's but there's a big difference: at the time i had less worries or less responsibilities if you like. but in today's world i learned to strip-off all the unnecessary noise and stress and concentrate on what's important. i can live very well without listening to all podcasts out there.
That's the secret -- shake off the self-imposed shackles (starting with the podcasts). We definitely do it to ourselves. It's difficult when there's so much out there that you want to absorb but time doesn't allow. The only difference between now and the 90s is the internet and that I was a teenager with no real responsbilities :D
Very much relate to the question you post to us at the end, Nat! I wish I had the answer...but I don't, you won't be shocked to hear.
My TBR is out of control but at least I'm slowly reading two books already (last year, I read...13 books in total. Absolute shambles). I've saved down loads of YouTube videos I ought to return to at some point. My Spotify podcast library is overflowing. I've got friend dates outstanding from...last year.
I hear ya! So much good stuff in there that ends up feeling like a punishment too. I was terrible with reading last year. Pretty sure I didn't make 13 books! Days rolling into one another. I think it's time for a cull of all that unnecessary 'stuff' and a refocus on the truly important (that which doesn't make us feel bad). x
I often feel this weight of everything that I could be/should be doing too: the emails and books to read, the apps to check, the movies and shows to watch, and the podcasts to listen to.... Plus the live performances (music, theatre, dance) and exhibitions to attend ..... And then the workshops and classes I could try!!!! The availability of choice is in those moments almost overwhelming. Thankfully I have learned to check in with my body, breathing and feeling until I sense what's really wanting itself in the moment, be it connection with my loved ones, or movement or inspiration or self-expression or just time to relax and be entertained. The weight of all the endless choices and all the pulls for my attention, then, oh thank the gods, disappear.
Thanks for your reply, Joan, it's really insightful. You're so right. So important to check in on ourselves and step back. It's the easiest thing in the world to be sucked into the things that call for our attention without giving time to actually stepping back and reevaluating if any of it is useful or even helpful to us. Social media can be the devil of this. I work in socials as part of my day job so they're difficult to switch off. I did The Artist's Way week off social media reset last summer. When I cam back to Facebook, Twitter and Instagram after this time, I realised that I'd missed nothing at all! It's a palate cleanser for sure!
Social media apps are challenging for all of us, I agree! Add to that the wide array of digital entertainment options, and the chances of keeping your feet firmly planted on the ground versus being pulled into the vortex are reduced to almost zero!
Oh I think about it all the time. The first half of my career was all film, no Photoshop, no internet, and even no cell phones for a while. I ran around at full speed photographing all the time. Too busy to sit for a break. Now, I spend 97% of my time on the computer. Yes, I think about it all the time and am trying to decide what is most important in life.
I can totally relate, the list keeps growing on the to do, to read, to explore and to contact folders. Life was simple in the 90s, a little black book of contacts, a magazine here and there, that was it!
So true, Xavi! In some ways, I love that we have access to s much amazing information but sense that my capacity isn't enough to take it all on board and properly enjoy. Magazines... Imagine waiting a week or a month to read up on your favourite subject in a magazine!
I often feel we’re close to a breaking point with the “stuff” thrown out at us when we expose ourselves to social media ... and I think it is primarily social media that’s driving the avalanche. I’ve been spending less time online and I feel better for it. I do feel sorry for today’s youth and how tethered they are to social media. When I go to the gym, I always see at least a few male teenagers (yup, usually they are male) glued to their phones while they sit on exercise machines. It’s depressing.
Today I was reminiscing about my teenage years (back in the 70s) when I had few things so I cherished those things, made them last for me. I didn’t buy and hoard books but I spent hours at the local library. I sewed a lot of my own clothes. I knitted. I didn’t have social media to “inform” me and yet I found ways to be creative. When I feel particularly overwhelmed, I think of those times and then think of what I don’t need now ... like Twitter ;-)
Those photos are truly wonderful. So vivid and mysterious.
I love that you had that childhood so you can tell the difference. So many (most) of the kids born from the 90s have no idea what it feels like to look out of the window of a train and watch the world whizz by or to be bored! Constant stimulation. It’s so sad. They don’t even know what they’re missing.
I feel for parents too because they’re between a rock and a hard place. Even if they try to limit their kids’ time on their phones, they have the pressure of other parents who don’t care or who consider phones and iPads to be nannies.
Yes! I’ve recently put screen time on my youngest daughter’s phone as she’s been racking up the hours. Problem is that’s how she communicates with her friends so she’s the one left our 😞
🖤🖤
life is simple, we as humans are making it complicated. i also miss the '90's but there's a big difference: at the time i had less worries or less responsibilities if you like. but in today's world i learned to strip-off all the unnecessary noise and stress and concentrate on what's important. i can live very well without listening to all podcasts out there.
What's your secret, perfectlight?
the wisdom that comes with age
That's the secret -- shake off the self-imposed shackles (starting with the podcasts). We definitely do it to ourselves. It's difficult when there's so much out there that you want to absorb but time doesn't allow. The only difference between now and the 90s is the internet and that I was a teenager with no real responsbilities :D
Very much relate to the question you post to us at the end, Nat! I wish I had the answer...but I don't, you won't be shocked to hear.
My TBR is out of control but at least I'm slowly reading two books already (last year, I read...13 books in total. Absolute shambles). I've saved down loads of YouTube videos I ought to return to at some point. My Spotify podcast library is overflowing. I've got friend dates outstanding from...last year.
I also miss the simpler times of our lives...
I hear ya! So much good stuff in there that ends up feeling like a punishment too. I was terrible with reading last year. Pretty sure I didn't make 13 books! Days rolling into one another. I think it's time for a cull of all that unnecessary 'stuff' and a refocus on the truly important (that which doesn't make us feel bad). x
Agreed, Nat! Let's see how successful it is but really trying to move the dial in the right direction (she says).
I often feel this weight of everything that I could be/should be doing too: the emails and books to read, the apps to check, the movies and shows to watch, and the podcasts to listen to.... Plus the live performances (music, theatre, dance) and exhibitions to attend ..... And then the workshops and classes I could try!!!! The availability of choice is in those moments almost overwhelming. Thankfully I have learned to check in with my body, breathing and feeling until I sense what's really wanting itself in the moment, be it connection with my loved ones, or movement or inspiration or self-expression or just time to relax and be entertained. The weight of all the endless choices and all the pulls for my attention, then, oh thank the gods, disappear.
Thanks for your reply, Joan, it's really insightful. You're so right. So important to check in on ourselves and step back. It's the easiest thing in the world to be sucked into the things that call for our attention without giving time to actually stepping back and reevaluating if any of it is useful or even helpful to us. Social media can be the devil of this. I work in socials as part of my day job so they're difficult to switch off. I did The Artist's Way week off social media reset last summer. When I cam back to Facebook, Twitter and Instagram after this time, I realised that I'd missed nothing at all! It's a palate cleanser for sure!
Social media apps are challenging for all of us, I agree! Add to that the wide array of digital entertainment options, and the chances of keeping your feet firmly planted on the ground versus being pulled into the vortex are reduced to almost zero!
Excellent photos, Nat. I'm quite a bit older than you, but I too miss the 90's.
Simpler times, for sure. Plus better films and better music.
Thanks so much, Alex. I find that I even like pop from the 90s and I definitely wasn't a fan at the time :D
Wonderful photos. And i too can relate to simpler times.
Thanks, Charlie. Imagine never experiencing a time without the internet and all the pulls of social media/being constantly 'on'!
Oh I think about it all the time. The first half of my career was all film, no Photoshop, no internet, and even no cell phones for a while. I ran around at full speed photographing all the time. Too busy to sit for a break. Now, I spend 97% of my time on the computer. Yes, I think about it all the time and am trying to decide what is most important in life.
We still managed to fill out time didn’t we! I can actually recall being bored! Can’t imagine that now 😆
I can totally relate, the list keeps growing on the to do, to read, to explore and to contact folders. Life was simple in the 90s, a little black book of contacts, a magazine here and there, that was it!
So true, Xavi! In some ways, I love that we have access to s much amazing information but sense that my capacity isn't enough to take it all on board and properly enjoy. Magazines... Imagine waiting a week or a month to read up on your favourite subject in a magazine!
I totally get it, there's too many of us, creating too much of everything, everywhere, constantly, it's insane!
Yeah, I miss waiting for the latest issue of my favourite magazines.
I often feel we’re close to a breaking point with the “stuff” thrown out at us when we expose ourselves to social media ... and I think it is primarily social media that’s driving the avalanche. I’ve been spending less time online and I feel better for it. I do feel sorry for today’s youth and how tethered they are to social media. When I go to the gym, I always see at least a few male teenagers (yup, usually they are male) glued to their phones while they sit on exercise machines. It’s depressing.
Today I was reminiscing about my teenage years (back in the 70s) when I had few things so I cherished those things, made them last for me. I didn’t buy and hoard books but I spent hours at the local library. I sewed a lot of my own clothes. I knitted. I didn’t have social media to “inform” me and yet I found ways to be creative. When I feel particularly overwhelmed, I think of those times and then think of what I don’t need now ... like Twitter ;-)
Those photos are truly wonderful. So vivid and mysterious.
I love that you had that childhood so you can tell the difference. So many (most) of the kids born from the 90s have no idea what it feels like to look out of the window of a train and watch the world whizz by or to be bored! Constant stimulation. It’s so sad. They don’t even know what they’re missing.
I feel for parents too because they’re between a rock and a hard place. Even if they try to limit their kids’ time on their phones, they have the pressure of other parents who don’t care or who consider phones and iPads to be nannies.
Yes! I’ve recently put screen time on my youngest daughter’s phone as she’s been racking up the hours. Problem is that’s how she communicates with her friends so she’s the one left our 😞
*out