Just about a week ago, while I was assisting to coach a group of students in Mathematics, we came across one question which could be easily solved; if and only if the students could think simple. I couldn’t blame them for making the problem sum complicated. When I was at their age, I had probably jump straight into solving the problem sum without much thoughts or maybe with too much thoughts.
This reminds me of an email which I received a few years ago. Some of you may still remember an email which told the story about scientists from 2 nations trying to come out with a solution to enable astronauts to write in space under weightless condition. The scientists in one nation ended up spending a fortune to come out with a new type of pen which would enable astronauts to write in a weightless condition. The scientists from the other country? They just used pencil.
I am not sure how genuine the story of the email was but it brilliantly illustrated the point of thinking simple. We may think it is easy to think simple. However, given a situation, most will analyse it … analyse it again …. then throw in some thought processes using problem solving skills which we were taught in school until at some points we risk being paralysed by our thoughts.
If someone was to come out with a simple solution, we might question, “Can it be so simple and straightforward?” Some of us, even myself at time, may not be able to accept the simple and straightforward solution. The question is, “Why couldn’t it be that simple?”
Confucius said, “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”
I read a news report about a week ago which stated, “Junk food kills more than 40,000 in the UK every year.” It was stated in the report, “Junk food ‘wrecked a terrible toll of ill health’ and placed a ‘substantial’ strain on the economy.
In another report by Reuters, “Junk food addiction may be clue to obesity: study.” According to the report, “Obesity-related diseases cost the United States an estimated $150 billion each year, according to U.S. federal agencies. An estimated two-thirds of American adults and one-third of children are obese or overweight.”
Thinking simple, the first report touched on a very key point: junk foods not only cause health problems but also a financial strain on the economy – think about the hundreds of millions that could have been saved on health cares and insurances, and in the case of the second report $150 billion.
Doesn’t it makes sense for us to change our eating habits then? Remember that consumers do have power! If we do not support the junk food industry, they need to change for the better … for us. There is a need for them to change how they are producing our food; government must also step in to introduce legislation to ensure that food manufacturers are making their products healthier.
A healthier you will ensure a healthier nation, which will also translate to saving on health cares and insurances. Can it be that simple?
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It is that simple, however people are complicated. People never make good decisions about food when they’re hungry. And that’s the problem. People are always rushing around in their cars, going to and fro. They get hungry on the road and see one of those places like Burger King or McD’s. The next thing you know they’re eating junk food.
Bigger behaviors need to change first, which is the problem.
@ One of the Guys, you couldn’t be more right; people are always the one to make things complicated. As in relationship, love is easy and yet we complicate it with expectation. Behaviors will need to change if we ever want to live healthier. I am not an extremist; I still take photo chips and McD once in a while. The key words here are ‘once in a while.’
It is true that choosing Junk Food is EASIER to do, but I decided to change my life back in February by eating more healthy and exercising, and I have to say, I have never felt better, or looked better, and I even THINK more clearly. Its not that I dont indulge occasionally, because everyone needs a cookie now and again. But I KNOW that people would be a lot healthier and happier if they at least CUT BACK on the Junk Food craze!
.-= meleah rebeccah´s last blog ..Operation- Watering Someone Else’s Plants =-.
@ Meleah, I agree with you. I am not an extremist too; as in I’m not saying to cut out junk food totally. We can still enjoy it sometimes. Glad that after you change your lifestyle, you are not only feeling better but also looking better and thinking more clearly.
Hi BK .. it is so true. Unfortunately the people who need to have better wholesome food .. don’t like it?! want that type of food .. and can’t afford better .. because for some reason that horrible fast food that’s so unhealthy for us is cheaper .. and apparently more satisfying.
Very sad .. but we can all help ourselves and our own family .. I was lucky I had fresh fruit and veg as a kid and have never lost that taste ..
I love the email story .. how to write in space – a pencil .. how true! Simple .. Hilary
.-= Hilary´s last blog ..Lazy- Hazy- Mazey Days of Summer – two approaches to revitalising town life in the 21st century =-.
@ Hilary, you made an excellent point; the food that is bad for our health are ironically cheaper than the food that is good to us. Thus we need intervention from higher authority to ensure the food manufacturers are producing food that is wholesome. And good food has to be affordable to all people too.
I’d like to touch on what “the guys” said. I do think that the issue is simple but that people are complex. I think that by boiling down an issue into something very simple that people are afraid that it makes it seem like we are simple instead of the issue merely being simple. In our desire to be viewed as complex rather than simple, I think that we often add needless complexity to many issues.
.-= Tina T´s last blog ..Types of Women to Run From =-.
@ Tina, I totally agree with you and the guys; we are the one who are always making things complicated when it could be so simple. Given a problem, we could be analyzing it again and again and again …. throwing in all the problem solving skills, thought processes, which we were taught in school until we find a ‘complicated’ solution and everyone applauds. That seems to be the norm of the society; solution needs to be complicated and most are afraid to be looked upon as simple-minded. In actual fact … a lot of times, we could have done better if we were simple minded.
I really love this post! It’s really fun how we always try to make things so complicated when it’s really that simple. Thanks so much for such a wonderful reminder of a sweet sentiment! Have a lovely merry happy weekend and love to yoU!
.-= jacqueline´s last blog ..things I like =-.
Sometimes solutions have simple answers too and I have found myself saying ‘that can’t possibily the right answer because I have solved it too easilty!’
@ Jacqueline, thank you and have a lovely merry happy weekend too! Love to you and yours!
@ Polly, indeed, there is this questioning part as we simply refuse to see things simple at time.
Junk food + convenience = overall unsustainable lifestyle.
The closer we can get to non-processed foods and living active fun, loving lives, the closer we’ll get to peak happiness.
xo
.-= Jannie Funster´s last blog ..A Photography “Before-And-After” Blog Post Wherein I’ve Availed Myself Of Corel Paint Shop Pro’s “Clone Brush” To Camouflage A Parking Lot And Beautify The Grass In A Photo Of Kelly At Age 5 Atop That Really Cool Round Stone Mosaic Thing Outside Austin’s Blanton Museum Of Art- A Post With Absolutely Zero Words In The Content Area– A Total First For Me- =-.
@ Jannie, it couldn’t be simpler than that but it can be such a challenge; walking into the supermarket, it is almost all processed foods.
But sometimes a complicated life is more interesting right? ;p
.-= Dora´s last blog ..It Meows 82 =-.
@ Dora, I believe what you mean is an exciting life as contrast to a boring one, instead of a complicated life. I agree that an exciting life where we constantly move out of our comfort zone is more interesting. :o)
It is that simple indeed. The stats show that a very small percentage of people make up the vast majority of health related expenses. Diet and exercise are two very simple concepts, but two very difficult ones to abide.
.-= w´s last blog ..Sunday Search of the Week 7-4-2010 =-.
@ Will, I agree with you on that; diet and exercise are two very simple concepts and yet challenging for people to abide by. And to make matter worse, junk food can be very alluring and the bulk of advertisements running on them just make them even more irresistible. Not to mention most people are too busy with work that they simply do not want to make time for exercise. However, if people recognise the benefits of good diet and exercise, together with support from people around them, there is still a high chance of changing their lifestyle.
Sometimes the simplest solutions are the hardest for us to adapt to for some reason.
.-= Pam´s last blog ..On The Road Again =-.
@ Pam, somehow our mind is programmed for difficult solution at time.
Thank you for this post. We reflect ourselves by the choices we make and healthy food is just as important as healthy thought for the mind.
http://dharbarkha.blogspot.com/
.-= Barkha Dhar´s last blog ..Honor Your Children =-.
To have a healthy body, one can’t solved it with one-time solution. Its a revolution of lifestyle and mindset.
.-= VanillaSeven´s last blog ..2010 World Cup =-.
Bk, i don’t know how you do it but you seem to always make a post that i could really relate to! I told myself this week that i would like to eat healthy. hehe I do enjoy my fair share of un-healthy indulgences every now and then! This is a really wonderful reminder! Thanks so much for sharing and have a lovely merry happy day! Lots of love to you and yours!
.-= jacqueline´s last blog ..i am enough- i am so glad i found you =-.
@ Barkha, you couldn’t be more right; having healthy thoughts for the mind are as important as healthy food and exercises for the body.
@ VanillaSeven, indeed, to have a healthy body is not a one time effort; we need to put in continuous effort and this is the challenge that most people face. Some people may start very enthusiastic but eventually cool off. We need to revolve to live a healthy lifestyle by eating right and exercising.
@ Jacqueline, glad that you could relate to the post. For me, when I am eating alone, I tend to go on a healthier all vegetables diet. And I do my best to keep to my run thrice a week. You are most welcome and a lovely merry happy day to you and lots of love to you and yours too!
Dearest BK, came to visit you and to wish you a lovely merry happy weekend! Love to you!
.-= jacqueline´s last blog ..feeling lucky =-.
@ Jacqueline, thank you. Have a lovely merry happy weekend and love to you too!