A simple but profound saying I’m beginning to see its deep insight as I grow older is — Less is More.
I’m lazy to search who made such remarks, but this saying is one I’ve heard often that I sometimes see it as too simple to throw around especially amongst people wants to sound intelligent than they are, or try to manipulate you to settle for less, when you can strive for more.
However I got to a realization that prompt me to revisit the essence behind the saying with how todays world is filled with stimulations, complications coupled with too many reactions from us, whenever we don’t get stimulated by the world around us like we want to. With or without a reason.
Solitude is dead.
or rather, it’s a sin in a world with more stimulation.
I believe there is a difference between settling for less, and the profound understanding that come with “less is more”. The first is about striving for the best or to be the best and not going for average or becoming an average joe, while the latter is about quantity and emphasize moderation.
To what extend should we need to be stimulated by social media, video games and streaming content. I’ve seen those who can stay up all night to play video games, watch Netflix all day and stay glued to TikTok contents.
It’s not a better option to settle for less when you can go for the best. For those getting stimulated by the technological world of today I believe it’s the best definition for settling for less. Because moderation and solitude is much more beneficial to us and our well-being than too much contents that feeds us cheap dopamine.
When it comes to the understanding behind - “less is more” it’s something that deals with not being materialistic just for the sake of having more, not consuming content just to consume more.
We can also see it as not complicating our mind, body and soul with too much to the extent that we corrupt ourselves with too much stimulation.
Stimulation is alive.
And morally okay to strive for more of it
Today while I was with mom, my step-brother who is always around her while she scroll TikTok came to her and asked her to get her a phone.
It came all of a sudden that I almost laughed about it, but I kept it in, just so I don’t ruin the mood, and also to listen to her response to this youngin’s request.
Before she turned to me, she asked my step-brother what he was going to do with a smartphone. He said he’ll be using it to watch TikTok and play games whenever he is bored at home after school and on weekends. That’s exactly what he said.
Then she turned to me and asked me at what age did my dad allow me to own a calling phone(one that comes with only calling features) not to talk of a smart phone that comes with all the stimulating features like the internet, mobile games and social media apps.
It was at that moment when she asked me the question that I eventually burst out all my sarcastic laugh that was bottled in… and whenever I laugh like that..
She knows I wasn’t going to give a straight answer.
Not because I don’t have one, but I don’t want to hurt my brothers feelings
Kids are too sensitive nowadays. Not just kids but also young adults my age who were allowed to have all they want while growing up.
Before I could be allowed to used a mobile phone I was already done with my high school, and at that time, I even had to sneak this shit somewhere around the house so it does not get spotted because it was bought by mom and dad must never hear about it so it does not get into the box where the other ones were.
Not until everyone was asleep that I could then go to my hiding spot to use the phone to play video games and watch kdramas. I love the stimulation back then, but it was very little that I could reflect on how much I love what I was doing back then, even if it does not provide me any real benefits. Playing Prince of Persia never added to my grades nor does lord of the rings got me a ring to help go back in time to right my wrongs.
Now compare this to my siblings that now uses my dad and moms phone whenever they want, without my dad being too strict about it. They are not even half through high school(known as secondary school around here). I guess my dad is now adapting to the ever changing world, but I never did. I still struggle to see stimulating content as a norm…
Because they make me numb and dumb.
We all know the truth - but many are too soft to realize the truth, cause it won’t get them what they want
This got me thinking about what could’ve brought up the question. Because I know smartphones weren’t allowed in the school premises back in the days, cause I went here.
But I guess they’ve became soft and had stopped to beat the hell out of kids when caught with one , so their parents won’t come to rain hell on them — the teachers.
Back in my days, my dad used to come personally to the school, to let my teachers know they are allowed to always beat me up whenever I make any wrong doings or caught with anything I shouldn’t have. I couldn’t be fancy like other kids back then, but looking back I got the lessons which is to not always want to get what I want.
Back then I want a mobile phone so bad
But I never did
I know kids who sneak phone inside back then and they are always beaten up with the phone seized until their parents are notified to come collect the phone.
Back then I’ve always had less and less compared with my peers.
But today, I’m glad I did, because I don’t like much stimulation compared to them and I still do I like reading old books and going for long walks to connect with myself. I don’t use Facebook, instagram or threads cause I just don’t see it’s purpose. I now only use YouTube for educational and thoughtful content. My X account was created(for zealy program) and a week after that, I also got tired of it.
I think one thing about Hive that many don’t see is that Hive has less users than other popular platforms, but offers so much more than they do.
Do you think hive needs more users to strive or just the right ones?
My brother could’ve asked mom to buy him a book but instead, he wants a smartphone.
And I have no idea for what reason he wants that at such a young age…
Do you?
