Efficiency vs. Enjoyment
Techie types grow to admire efficiency: accomplishing the most with the least effort. Sometimes, however, it is better to sacrifice efficiency in order to increase enjoyment. Take, for example, a fine restaurant meal from the time The Wife and I were in Paris. We certainly could have wolfed down the food faster and gotten in and out in record time, but that was (of course) not the point: efficiency be damned, we wanted to enjoy ourselves.
The idea came to me while walking in my MBT shoes, which require more muscular effort (to maintain balance and stride) than regular shoes but which also make the walk actually enjoyable. And I thought of two other areas where we sacrifice efficiency to enjoyment: shaving and sex. (Imagine the guy who crows with triumph when he achieves a 30-second sex act and his determination to break 15 seconds. Wouldn’t you say he’s missed the point?)
I have been a member of the SLOW Food movement since it started in the mid-’80’s in Italy. Today it is a worldwide phenomenon. I’m not sure if you’re aware of it, but just Google “Slow Food” and you’ll enter an amazing world. Not just about eating slowly, but about preserving heritage methods and seeds in order to restore great taste to our pathetic food supply.
Steve
22 November 2009 at 7:12 am
Excellent example. Yes, I do know about the Slow Food movement—in fact, I myself often cook slow foods and I particularly do not like (and do not eat) “fast food”.
LeisureGuy
22 November 2009 at 9:28 am
I admit to occasionally eating fast food, e.g. a Subway sandwich, when traveling and with little time between appointments….but I eat it very slowly! 🙂
Steve
23 November 2009 at 5:15 am