"As my eyesight dims somewhat, I think my vision improves"

For some time now I've been thinking about how we over-complicate just about every aspect of our lives. If Thoreau was right, and all we need is food, shelter and fuel, then why all the hubbub?

I think when people ask questions such as, "Why does one spend so much time reading and watching movies? What does one get out of it? Where is the practicality in such and such thingamabob?" I think the real question they are getting at is what is the purpose of it all? Lets be honest, there's nothing very practical about a 9-5 job with two weeks off a year and 1/3 of your time EVERY DAY dedicated to some mundane task which ultimately exists to justify the fact that you make more money than you deserve. I've got my back up against a wall with this argument so I won't give more examples (That was for you Mac).

I recalled a conference address that at the time was a great comfort to me. I was in northern Mexico when this message was delivered to me; life there tends to be much simpler than it is here. The talk has been ingrained in my mind ever since I heard it, "life can be wonderful and so meaningful, but we have to live it in a simple way". This is something that perhaps we have forgotten coming from someone who I hope we haven't forgotten. A ghost, returning to my mind, enabling my memory. Is it ethical to remember?

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