I just came off of a trip out of town to see and experience The Henry Ford Museum of Innovation and Greenfield Village.
Greenfield Village is a collection of original and fully restored historic buildings.
These include the home Henry Ford was born in (1863), the home Harvey Firestone was born in (1868), the home the Wright brothers were born in (1867 & 1871), and many other historic homes, shops, and businesses.
All fully restored and presented exactly as they were then down to the smallest detail.
It was a truly wonderful experience!
I’ve always been interested in and fascinated by this kind of history. The time period of the late 1800s and early 1900s.
How people lived then, the times they lived in, the culture at the time, the people, the technology, all of it.
I love old restored buildings from this time period…always have.
It wasn’t until I visited Greenfield Village that I understood why.
I mean I’ve been to many other historically restored places. St. Augustine, Fort Christmas, Thomas Edison’s Fort Myers laboratory, and many places up and down the Appalachian Mountains…
I even have a fully functioning farm bell from 1889 in my front yard that I ring every morning.
But I never really thought about WHY I loved these old buildings and all of the history that goes along with it.
But after visiting Greenfield Village, I think I’ve pinpointed a reason.
It’s because during those times things were much simpler.
Life was much simpler.
Things moved more slowly.
And people were less stressed out.
At least from my perspective in 2021
Back then a day’s work was a day’s work.
Men were men.
And women were women.
A man could be proud of himself and his accomplishments.
Of course there were the innovators and the change agents…
Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, and the like.
There are always the innovators.
Think about Isaac Newton…while everyone else was riding around on horseback, he invented calculus…in 1665.
But for the working men…the rest of us…times were simpler.
I get that the mid-1800s and early 1900s had their fair share of problems and concerns.
Medicine was primitive in comparison to today. The devices we have that ease the burdens of everyday life didn’t exist back then. At least not to the degree they do today.
But overall, I fully believe times were simpler and as a result the quality of life was better.
You could put in a day’s work…
Eat food that for the most part is much more nutritious than the same food today…
And you’d rest well without all of the distractions we deal with today.
I think people were more connected back then too – like really connected. Not like people are today.
Times are different now, for sure.
And I can’t go back in time.
But I can work towards engineering a life that is simpler than the current path I’ve been pursuing.
Life is meant to be lived and enjoyed.
I think too many people work and live like slaves…when they do finally take the time to look up, it’s too late.
Then they live with this kind of regret that they didn’t make an initiative earlier to build a life they could be proud of.
And it’s unfortunate.
So why am I saying all of this?
Well, I’ve come to realize that I need to engineer MY ideal lifestyle so the rest of my life I can enjoy more.
I’ve been pushing, pulling, seeking, striving, accelerating, achieving, and always trying for more…for a long time.
I’m ready to take it a little easier.
It might not happen in the next month or two. It could.
It might take six months or a year to get everything in place to realize the plan I have.
But it will be worth it, I think, in the long run.
Then I can take more trips and enjoy my life to the fullest.
Time to get busy…
At least for the next little while.
See you at the top!