The next Scratch asks the questions, “How much more is less?” or “Is less really that much more?”
Two really great questions that are tested every minute of our days and nights, informally and formally as well as intuitively and intentionally.
In all respects, it depends on who is talking, listening and/or thinking, but directly to the first question, I would say, “quite a lot” and to the second, a resounding “YES”, with some additional perspective.
Growing up in the ’50’s and ’60’s, I witnessed wise choices (mostly by my parents) about this less/more notion from growing vegetables, to cooking bacon in a skillet to giving a speech to playing music to frying eggs in that same skillet to go with the bacon.
Fewer well thinned seedlings properly cared for will yield more lettuce and tomatoes than those that are crammed so close together they struggle to survive. Five slices of bacon cooking in a well seasoned 9” cast iron skillet will produce a tastier bacon experience than eight laying atop one another, slowly steaming as opposed to pan frying.
Fewer well chosen words can capture the attention of an audience as opposed to too many jumbled together for affect. A simple driving drum beat highlighted with a few tasteful “fills” can create more joy than a fast and flashy solo. And, cooking those eggs in that same cast iron skillet as opposed to a revolutionary copper or granite non stick model, makes for an memorable breakfast meal any time of the day.
So what am I saying? More is bad? No. It has it’s place. I am discovering that “more” in this context is inevitable, even predictable, and as the pace of change accelerates it must be appreciated and understood. But, less can be best if we recognize it for the simplistic foundation it represents. Because “More” is inevitable, “Less” need not be a memory. For now, my less is enough, but I would like to hear some of your Less and More stories if you care to respond. If not, then I said enough at least for now. Remember, “Less really is more.” Catch you all next time.