I was thinking about…

Why We Long for Simpler Times: The Appeal of a Slower Pace of Life

The Timeless Appeal of Simplicity
by Andy Lee

As I flip through old family photos, I’m struck by the faces of my grandparents. Their lives are etched with the wrinkles of resilience and quiet joy. Their world moved at a different pace. It was not marked by digital alerts or frantic rush hours. Instead, it was marked by sunrises and the slow tick of the clock on the wall. Maybe that’s why, every now and then, I catch myself yearning for simpler times. I long for a slower pace of life that seems lost in the noise of today’s fast-forward world.

We’re living in an age that glorifies hustle. Endless work emails pinging our phones create constant noise. The pressure of social media’s highlight reels adds to it. It feels like we’re always on, always striving, always one step behind. The glorification of being busy has reached a fever pitch. But when was the last time any of us actually felt fulfilled by it? It’s no wonder we romanticize those quieter eras—where leisure wasn’t a luxury but a built-in part of daily life.

Think about it: when was the last time you saw kids riding their bikes to the store? They did it without a smartphone GPS guiding them. When did you last have a meal without some glowing screen nearby? Our grandparents’ generation might have had fewer conveniences, but they also had fewer distractions. They lived fully present, grounded in the moment, savoring the ordinary as extraordinary. There was no FOMO, no need to constantly compare and compete. What they had, they enjoyed.

That’s not to say life back then was idyllic or devoid of challenges—it certainly wasn’t. But there was a profound contentment in the simplicity of knowing your neighbors. There was also contentment in routines that kept life steady and familiar. It was the rhythm of seasons, not notifications, that set the pace. I find myself longing for that kind of groundedness. Each day felt like a full chapter. It was not just a blur in the endless scroll of modern existence.

But let’s be real: we can’t just rewind the clock and live like it’s 1955. Yet there’s something to be said for borrowing bits of that slower, more mindful way of living. We can carve out moments of stillness. We can prioritize real connections over digital ones. We can find joy in the small, simple things. Enjoy a cup of coffee without the rush. Take a walk in the park without earbuds. Have a conversation without the urge to check the time.

Ultimately, I think what draws us to the idea of simpler times is the promise of peace. It’s peace from the relentless chase. It’s peace from the mental clutter. It’s peace from the unending demands of a world that never seems to sleep. Maybe it’s less about returning to a past that’s gone. It’s more about reclaiming a pace of life that allows us to breathe deeply. This pace lets us think clearly and connect meaningfully.

So here’s my challenge to you: let’s resist the pull to always be doing. Instead, embrace the art of simply being. Slow down enough to savor the sunset. Linger over a good book. Just sit and watch the world go by without feeling like we’re wasting time. If there’s one lesson we can take from the slower days of our grandparents, it’s that life doesn’t always need to be fast. Our grandparents taught us that life doesn’t always need to be fast. We can learn that life can be unhurried. Life can be fulfilling without always being fast.

Stay present, keep it simple. 🕰️🌸