Abundance - Oct 1 2021

 

Abundance

Oct 1 2021

I like to keep it simple.

Two choices would be plenty.

Just two of everything   —

horsepower, salad dressing

sparkling or flat.

Any more, and the thought of going wrong

would probably keep dogging me

into unhappiness.

Like the Model – T,

which came in whatever colour you wanted

as long as it was black.

Because Ford was a sensible man;

no regrets

envy

distractions

when we're all monochromatic.

But the supermarket shelves

are a riot of colour,

row on row

of Vinaigrette, French, Ranch,

along with every brand of toilet paper

and stacks of canned beans.

Aren't there better things to think about

than Heinz or Kraft?

Has abundance made us happy?

And whatever happened

to the simple choice

between decaf and regular?

Once, it was the girl next door

and you were thrilled when she noticed you.

Back when we were romantics

and there was one woman for every man

and we all lived happily ever after.

But now, there are dating apps galore

and a million wrong choices;

if you can always do better

you'll never be satisfied.

My father met his bride

because she was in the neighbourhood,

a fraternity brother's sister

with whom he fell in love.

Not at first sight, perhaps

but soon enough.

Until death do us part, they said,

and for over half a century

didn't bother themselves

with regrets or second thoughts.

Economists understand this. They talk about “the paradox of choice” and “loss aversion”.

We live in a complex interdependent world of long, vulnerable, just-in-time supply chains. So as well as happy, how much more resilient would we be with fewer choices and simpler lives?