Do We Have it All Wrong?

I wanted to write this first real post about something that I think about daily. When I say daily I really mean daily, like all the time. Do we in fact have it all wrong?

What I mean is, were things better in the past? I'm picturing a Norse village as an example of what I mean. I wasn't there, but I imagine things were more simple. They built their own homes, found their own food, made their own clothing, built their own tools, etc. Now a days that might seem like a lot of work and unnecessary because we literally don't have to do any of those things. But is it better for our soul? Did humans find more meaning and purpose when they were fully responsible for those things? With it so easy to just get all of those things today, where do we find our meaning and purpose?

I've been told that I romanticize the past. And that may be true. But I truly believe that humans were happier in the past. Today with everything so readily available, we have more time to overthink, more time to focus too much on ourselves, more time to get depressed. You get what I'm saying? I've also been told that everyone still had the same problems in the past as they do today, like worrying about feeding a family. And yes that is true. BUT did we get more satisfaction and purpose out of feeding our family when we were actually out there hunting and gathering our own food? I personally feel like I would find more meaning in this than driving over to the grocery store and having everything for the taking.

It's kind of strange because we as humans want to make progress right? We want to further develop and further develop. We want bigger houses, faster internet, nicer clothes, cooler cars, more of this and more of that. We think more is better and the fancier the better (not saying every human feels this way but I feel like this is the general American vibe). So I ask, do all of these things bring happiness? Some people I believe would say yes right away. But are we just conditioned to think that? For me, I would be very happy with a house that served its purpose which is to house me and my family, have somewhere to sleep, somewhere to cook, somewhere to use the bathroom. For years I've been caught up in the HGTV mindset thinking that I needed a perfect looking house, inside and out. But I've come to find that really doesn't matter for me.

What matters is the love that's inside the house. My kids aren't going to remember that their house was super hip when they were growing up. They are going to remember the love they felt, saw, and grew there. Or if I fail, did not receive there. Also, I think there can be some kind of balance. I can enjoying decorating my home for the holidays and creating memories for my kids that way or enjoy putting out fresh flowers or painting my living room a happy color. But to me this is different than trying to make a magazine ready house.

WOW have I completely rambled at this point! I think I have strayed somewhat from what I was originally trying to say, but to me it's hard to talk about one topic here without leading into the other. Basically what it comes down to for me is the question of were humans happier in the past? I truly want to hear your opinion! Comment and let me know what you think! I'd love to get a conversation going about this and hear other people's viewpoints.

x Allie