The problem with holidays is that all the things you manage to out run while working finally catch up with you. Im exhausted and its only been a weekend break....
We never have enough time for anything anymore. The way things are set up guarantees it. Our ancestors never ate three square meals a day nor did they even sleep as long as we did (they slept in intervals). Funny how we've set up society the way it is, in which we have to work longer (modern lighting taking place of the sunlight), eat more (and gain more weight), and feel sleepless even though we sleep too much at times (or are unable to sleep due to stress). Just funny, but kind of sad. All of these traits of modern living lead to more unhealthy habits and stress. But I suppose there never was such a thing as an "authentic life," neither then nor now. That's the only comfort in it all. Perhaps we have more of a chance, even though all this tiresome mess, to be more real in some way, even if it's only through a blog entry. I keep telling myself that anyway.
I read George Orwells book Down and Out in London and Paris a while ago. It is his personal account of the times he spent living in ultimate poverty (sometimes as a tramp )before his writing was being recognized. People worked 7 days a week then and only had an afternoon a week off. In fact they worked 18 hour days all the time. People had to live on bread and margarine when out of work, and once they became so weak and unsightly no one would hire them ! Its not a long book, but it is worth a read. Interestingly he said that when he worked for top hotels and restaurants, the food they prepared was made from average quality ingredients with a huge mark up on the customers bills ! Nothing has changed much there then ! I think we spend a lot of time travelling nowadays and energy doing it...
Sounds rough. Some people have it really rough nowadays too but the majority are still really pampered. It is good to reflect on what you wrote to come to terms with what our predecessors had to deal with.
We never have enough time for anything anymore. The way things are set up guarantees it. Our ancestors never ate three square meals a day nor did they even sleep as long as we did (they slept in intervals). Funny how we've set up society the way it is, in which we have to work longer (modern lighting taking place of the sunlight), eat more (and gain more weight), and feel sleepless even though we sleep too much at times (or are unable to sleep due to stress). Just funny, but kind of sad. All of these traits of modern living lead to more unhealthy habits and stress. But I suppose there never was such a thing as an "authentic life," neither then nor now. That's the only comfort in it all. Perhaps we have more of a chance, even though all this tiresome mess, to be more real in some way, even if it's only through a blog entry. I keep telling myself that anyway.
ReplyDeleteI read George Orwells book Down and Out in London and Paris a while ago. It is his personal account of the times he spent living in ultimate poverty (sometimes as a tramp )before his writing was being recognized. People worked 7 days a week then and only had an afternoon a week off. In fact they worked 18 hour days all the time. People had to live on bread and margarine when out of work, and once they became so weak and unsightly no one would hire them ! Its not a long book, but it is worth a read. Interestingly he said that when he worked for top hotels and restaurants, the food they prepared was made from average quality ingredients with a huge mark up on the customers bills ! Nothing has changed much there then ! I think we spend a lot of time travelling nowadays and energy doing it...
ReplyDeleteSounds rough. Some people have it really rough nowadays too but the majority are still really pampered. It is good to reflect on what you wrote to come to terms with what our predecessors had to deal with.
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