I recently had an epiphany, well my husband did and then it got me to thinking. I am a thinker, get lost in her own thoughts and hunt for knowledge, kind of girl. I’ve had many hours to get lost in my own thoughts as I pull from the never ending weeds in my gardens. Which led me to an interesting conversation with my husband.
Why do we call it the simple life, and not the complex life?
Well first we’d have to understand the definition of simple, and complex in order to really ponder why we so freely allow language to form our opinions.
According to wordnik.com simple means:
- Having few parts or features; not complicated or elaborate.
- Easy to understand, do, or carry out: synonym: easy.
- Having or composed of only one thing, element, or part.
On the contrary complex is defined as:
- Consisting of interconnected or interwoven parts; composite.
- adjective Composed of two or more units.
- adjective Difficult to understand for being intricate or involved; complicated.
So now that we’ve established a comprehension of the meaning of simple and complex I think we should dive in.
In previous descriptions of the life we lead I’ve used the sentence…shoot, I think it’s in my about me, “living simply.” So hear this, I am not pointing fingers at anyone, more of analyzing why and how we’ve come to associate a life of homesteading, farming, or ranching as simple when in fact it is anything but simple.
The complexity of everyday tasks in order to keep everything operating smoothly in fact are quite the contrary to the synonym variant of simple, easy.
Easy is not a term I’d used to describe a life of homesteading.
Now let’s look at the definition of complex, shall we? This description of complex is one of intrigue for me, “Consisting of interconnected or interwoven parts”. Now that seems more fitting for the life of a homesteader doesn’t it?
In order to operate a well functioning homestead you have to embrace the interwoven parts wholeheartedly in order to succeed.
Consisting of two or more units; animal husbandry, gardening, self-sufficiency are only but three of the list of many hats a homesteader wears.
Now let me pose this scenario. Going back to one of the definitions of simple “Easy to understand, do, or carry out.” Someone who chooses not to homestead spends a large portion of their income on groceries. Now let’s consider this, a non homesteader heads to the grocery store to pick up their weeks groceries. They go in with a list, grab items from a large variety off the shelf, seems simple.
On the contrary a homesteader, carefully plans how they will feed their family from their own home. Starting seeds in early spring, carefully calculating how many of each plant needed to feed their family for the upcoming year. Learning the correct way to care for their animals, administering medicine to sick animals, calculating the amount of feed required for the year, are only but a few examples.
Which example seems more simple?
Now this isn’t a judgmental post about those who go to the grocery store and how homesteaders are better, if you took that from this then you’ve missed the point completely. I do go to the grocery store too, and it is leaps and bounds easier than trying to grow everything that my family could ever want.
It’s more of an interesting topic I’ve recently been pondering about why we allow society to mold our own perspectives and definitions of certain words?
I have on many occasions called our lifestyle simple, but recently had a change of heart and mind. It is anything but simple, filled with a complexity that no other word comes to mind but natural, interwoven throughout my genetics. A homesteader like those in my family long before me.
By calling homesteading, farming or ranching the simple life it forms a negative connotation to this lifestyle. Romanticizing yet downplaying the complexity involved in operating a homestead. Thus resulting in many failed homesteading aspirations.
I wonder if we called it the complex life of homesteading would those entering into it be more prepared for what lies ahead of them?
Tell me, why do you think that homesteaders are considered as living simply?
What is something you’ve allowed to mold your thought process, but recently had a change of heart and mind?
Happy Homesteading!
Danielle
