Many people promote the latest technological advancements, claiming that technology makes their life so much simpler, but is this really the case?  Computers with word processing are definitely easier to use than typewriters, but what about even newer technology?  With the onset of new technology, there is a simultaneous onset of problems with all of the new electronics.  We keep inventing new machines to fix the problems of the previous ones.  We live in a world in which machines do much of our work for us, yet we are all frustrated will all of the customer service we must go through in order to fix the broken machines.  Instead of searching past technology, many people propose new technology to help fix the problems of old technology.  What this world really needs is a lesson in simplicity.

      With every technological advancement there are drawbacks, so new machines are always being created to take care of the problems with the older ones.  There are programs that claim that the user can orally verbalize his or her paper and the program will type it.  This sounds wonderful at first, but there are so many errors if the person is not speaking clearly, if the person has an accent, or if he or she is saying homophones such as “pale” and “pail,” which sound the same even though they are two very different words.  Many people who own this type of program complain that it would be faster to have typed the paper in the first place than to have to go back to fix the numerous errors.  There are so many problems with new technology and electronics that are similar to this problem.  A person invents a supposedly perfect new piece of equipment, but one can be sure that it will break down at some point.

      Simplicity can take care of all of our problems with technology.  This world should take a look at Henry David Thoreau’s Walden to see the advantages of nature.  Thoreau is very extreme in his ideas of living in the solitude with no worldly possessions.  He actually goes to the middle of the woods and lives alone, trying to rid himself of the world.  Though he takes simplicity to an intense level, every person can emulate some of his general ideas.  Is it really necessary to anyone to have hundreds of channels on their television?  Most people with all of these channels still complain that there is nothing to watch.  Does every person need a cell phone – even children who are only eight years old?  Lately, parents have been buying cell phones for their fourth graders.  This seems a bit excessive and wasteful.  These children should be playing with Barbies and Legos; not texting or talking to their friends on their cell phones.  People are always buying the newest SUV, yet most of the owners do not have more than two or three children.  Their fancy SUV is burning fuel for what purpose?  To intimidate the drivers in smaller, more environmentally friendly cars, or to show off to their neighbors?  With this current economic crisis, it is a good time to start living simply.

 Living simply allows people to appreciate the aspects of their life that are truly important.  Without being tied down to all of these new electronics, a person can appreciate family, friends, nature, and God.  Instead of watching television or playing videogames, people can go hiking, have a family game night, or just go outside, enjoy nature, and praise the Lord for His creation.  Life is so much less hectic when people actually take time to revel in the simple things in life instead of all of their possessions.  By living simply, people can have much happier marriages, friendships, and relationships to children and other relatives.

      Health is an added benefit to simple living.  Most people who are not attached to their possessions take more time to go outside.  This helps their health both physically and mentally.  Children should come home from school and go outside to play with their friends instead of heading straight for the junk food and television or computer.  A main part of the reason that this nation is so obese is because of our sedentary lifestyle.  Why was this obesity crisis not so prevalent in the times of our ancestors?  Because they did not own all of these addicting electronics.  Now, people prefer to sit on their couch watching lousy television shows to going outside and enjoying nature.  If people went outside to walk or garden for just half of the time they usually spend in front of the television or computer, this country’s obesity problem would be almost eliminated.  Not only would this problem be fixed, but also depression.  Some people do have depression due to a chemical imbalance in the brain, but many people experience this problem because of their hectic lives.  If they took the time to enjoy the outdoors, they would probably experience more joyful days.  People claim that after a long day of work they do not have time to relax because they have to get dinner ready, take care of the kids, get ready for the next day, and so on, yet somehow they find the time to watch a couple television shows or play around on the internet.  With that time, they could have easily gone for a short walk around the neighborhood to de-stress.  Living simply is a great benefit to physical and emotional health.

      There are so many benefits to embracing simplicity that there could be lists and lists of the numerous ways in which it will improve lives.  Thoreau is a great example of a person living a simplistic lifestyle, but most people in the world are not called to take it to such an extreme.  Just cutting out some of the time we spend with technology will benefit our lives.  Watching television for only one hour instead of two is a great first step.  Walking our dog instead of just letting him out in the backyard is another great way to embrace the simple aspects of life, such as nature and quiet time.  This world is so noisy that people have no time to hear themselves think, so simplicity is an absolute must.  By living simply our lives will improve drastically, which in turn, will enhance our world as a whole.