Too much choice? How true Molly…I totally agree with you. Do we really need umpteen choices of toothpaste or shampoo or soap? I sometimes stand paralysed at shelves of products not knowing what on earth to choose and often I just walk away and give up! However, I do love the choice we are given in bookshops and I can lose myself for ages looking at books and also having a coffee if one is available in the bookshop. I was born in 1947 not long after the war and many things were still rationed until I was about 6 years old. I can’t ever remember feeling deprived at the limited choices that were available and these days it can be frustrating to see so much choice and the concurrent waste which follows. I really enjoy your YouTube videos and Substack writings Molly. Your content is much more in line with my philosophy on life. Love to the beautiful Skye ❤️.
I had a customer say the same thing the other day: how did we go from Ivory and Dial (two brands of bar soap) to "this" as she pointed to a 24 food long, 5 shelf high display of soap.
Excellent post Molly, and oh so true. I grew up in the 80’s, a decade that was so much simpler and life was definitely easier where choice was concerned. No wonder so many people feel overwhelmed and suffer poor mental health, nothing about life now feels easy.
Right on. I hear you! I have purposefully simplified my life because, like you said, it can be overwhelming.
In a way, poverty has forced simplicity on me. Gone forever are vacations, going to events, dinners out, new clothes, movies in theaters, or much of anything else. I've learned to love what I have: my "messy" garden, cooking all my own food, drinking coffee and watching the bird feeder and the sun rise and set. None of these are bad things, and they are simple. That's a good thing.
It is so true, we really are bombarded endlessly throughout our everyday by choices. No wonder there are so many of us seeking for a simpler way to live our lives!
I especially feel sorry for the children these days. I have one son and as much as we try to simplify his life and help him to see the value in things, that over abundance is still there and it's really hurting them.
I have been dwelling a lot lately on this particular topic and feeling a little overwhelmed over just how 'too much' this world seems these days. I could go on and on about it. But really, what I find beautiful is people such as yourself who are really helping to preserve the much needed simplicity and slowness that is so needed by all of us. These quiet spaces online are such a treasure and I just love being able to turn off all the unnecessary outside noise and read your words, which each week really remind me that I am enough and I have enough and that my simple joys and frugal ways are enough.
I miss guessing what colour clothing people were wearing on our black & white tv 😄
And having to get up to switch it on and off!!
I have had enough of choices and stick to simple and regular options, and when trying to make decisions I listen to my gut intinct, to try and avoid anxiety xx
I also get overwhelmed when having to make a choice. It's like the little shop in my village, there's just enough produce to choose from to make a healthy meal. If I go to the big supermarket I come out with a lot of food I didn't want and none of it goes together! Also can I say thank you for this week's video 'thriving without social media' I found it really helpful in deciding to give up Instagram and I am going shopping for a little journalling book this week.
Yes!!! I love this and experience it often. We get so much information from every direction these days on every subject about what’s “bad” and “good”. It’s hard not to feel like you can make the “wrong” choice. I have absolutely been working on letting go of the idea of perfection just to be able to breathe easier in life these days. What you discussed was excellent!! As a highly sensitive person, I so appreciate you and your writings ❤️
This was brilliant. And touched on all the things and feelings, I've been going through and thinking about recently. It's hard to muddle through these thoughts of nostalgia, and then to understand how or what to do now. How to shake it off. I've only recently had to deal with these thoughts and the emotions they are stirring up, and I think it's since trying to slow down, that they've hit me.(..now I have the time for them to.) Not that I really want them to, as I feel they are making it harder to get through the procrastination, and find motivation in this new chapter of life
It's like you took the words right out of my mouth, Molly. More and more I find myself feeling overwhelmed by the "stuff" everywhere - part of me is a maximiser wanting to make the absolute best decision, but the other part freezes at all of these options and then never makes the choice at all.
In terms of films, I'm an avid cinema-goer and I love the fact that you have to work around the film, not the other way round. If I want to see something and it's only on at a certain time, I have to make sure I'm there on time to see it. In a world of uber-accessibility this can make a lot of difference!
Love this Molly. I am terrible at choosing something to watch on tv and always end up just going with what my partner chooses. Left to my own devices, I will go back to the old favorites of my childhood and teen years. My brother and I always text each other random lines, clips, or songs from our favorite oldies. We’re such nerds! Thank you for this post. It’s true, there are too many choices! It’s noisy. 🫶
There is so much choice of words to read online. This morning I read this, and this, was good enough. Thank you Molly.
There was a rhythm and flow to life. Now, with oceans of choice we're lost at sea, drowning in an emptiness of meaning.
Thank you Trevor. What wonderful words :)
Too much choice? How true Molly…I totally agree with you. Do we really need umpteen choices of toothpaste or shampoo or soap? I sometimes stand paralysed at shelves of products not knowing what on earth to choose and often I just walk away and give up! However, I do love the choice we are given in bookshops and I can lose myself for ages looking at books and also having a coffee if one is available in the bookshop. I was born in 1947 not long after the war and many things were still rationed until I was about 6 years old. I can’t ever remember feeling deprived at the limited choices that were available and these days it can be frustrating to see so much choice and the concurrent waste which follows. I really enjoy your YouTube videos and Substack writings Molly. Your content is much more in line with my philosophy on life. Love to the beautiful Skye ❤️.
Thank you Ann, I so loved reading this comment :)
I had a customer say the same thing the other day: how did we go from Ivory and Dial (two brands of bar soap) to "this" as she pointed to a 24 food long, 5 shelf high display of soap.
So true. How did we get to this I wonder 🤔.
Excellent post Molly, and oh so true. I grew up in the 80’s, a decade that was so much simpler and life was definitely easier where choice was concerned. No wonder so many people feel overwhelmed and suffer poor mental health, nothing about life now feels easy.
Thank you Wendy!
Right on. I hear you! I have purposefully simplified my life because, like you said, it can be overwhelming.
In a way, poverty has forced simplicity on me. Gone forever are vacations, going to events, dinners out, new clothes, movies in theaters, or much of anything else. I've learned to love what I have: my "messy" garden, cooking all my own food, drinking coffee and watching the bird feeder and the sun rise and set. None of these are bad things, and they are simple. That's a good thing.
Thanks for a very nice article.
So inspiring, thank you for sharing
It is so true, we really are bombarded endlessly throughout our everyday by choices. No wonder there are so many of us seeking for a simpler way to live our lives!
I especially feel sorry for the children these days. I have one son and as much as we try to simplify his life and help him to see the value in things, that over abundance is still there and it's really hurting them.
I have been dwelling a lot lately on this particular topic and feeling a little overwhelmed over just how 'too much' this world seems these days. I could go on and on about it. But really, what I find beautiful is people such as yourself who are really helping to preserve the much needed simplicity and slowness that is so needed by all of us. These quiet spaces online are such a treasure and I just love being able to turn off all the unnecessary outside noise and read your words, which each week really remind me that I am enough and I have enough and that my simple joys and frugal ways are enough.
Thank you so much Georgina, this was lovely to read 💚
Spot on, Molly!
I miss guessing what colour clothing people were wearing on our black & white tv 😄
And having to get up to switch it on and off!!
I have had enough of choices and stick to simple and regular options, and when trying to make decisions I listen to my gut intinct, to try and avoid anxiety xx
Love this! Thanks Cheryl :)
I also get overwhelmed when having to make a choice. It's like the little shop in my village, there's just enough produce to choose from to make a healthy meal. If I go to the big supermarket I come out with a lot of food I didn't want and none of it goes together! Also can I say thank you for this week's video 'thriving without social media' I found it really helpful in deciding to give up Instagram and I am going shopping for a little journalling book this week.
That's wonderful to hear, thank you for sharing Samantha :)
We, as humans, ‘have overdone it’, as someone said yesterday. Could not agree
more. I think more and more people are
craving simplicity.
Love this!
Yes!!! I love this and experience it often. We get so much information from every direction these days on every subject about what’s “bad” and “good”. It’s hard not to feel like you can make the “wrong” choice. I have absolutely been working on letting go of the idea of perfection just to be able to breathe easier in life these days. What you discussed was excellent!! As a highly sensitive person, I so appreciate you and your writings ❤️
Thank you Mary :)
This was brilliant. And touched on all the things and feelings, I've been going through and thinking about recently. It's hard to muddle through these thoughts of nostalgia, and then to understand how or what to do now. How to shake it off. I've only recently had to deal with these thoughts and the emotions they are stirring up, and I think it's since trying to slow down, that they've hit me.(..now I have the time for them to.) Not that I really want them to, as I feel they are making it harder to get through the procrastination, and find motivation in this new chapter of life
It's like you took the words right out of my mouth, Molly. More and more I find myself feeling overwhelmed by the "stuff" everywhere - part of me is a maximiser wanting to make the absolute best decision, but the other part freezes at all of these options and then never makes the choice at all.
In terms of films, I'm an avid cinema-goer and I love the fact that you have to work around the film, not the other way round. If I want to see something and it's only on at a certain time, I have to make sure I'm there on time to see it. In a world of uber-accessibility this can make a lot of difference!
I love this approach to films! Thank you for sharing :)
Love this Molly. I am terrible at choosing something to watch on tv and always end up just going with what my partner chooses. Left to my own devices, I will go back to the old favorites of my childhood and teen years. My brother and I always text each other random lines, clips, or songs from our favorite oldies. We’re such nerds! Thank you for this post. It’s true, there are too many choices! It’s noisy. 🫶
I completely agree, and raising a child in this world is tricky.
Thank you for putting words to something I didn’t even realize I was grieving!
The overwhelm is real. I wonder if this generation will look back with nostalgia though? Or something else.
What might it be like if each moment were choiceless?