I just finished watching a documentary on Shangri-La tea caravans, and I took about a million different lessons thanks to my capacity for overthinking. But what I feel the most is pity. Pity for my intellectualism.

When you’re a smart, educated person, you base life on philosophies, daydreams, and logic. You want to see the world, to change the world. You want to make a difference. The people on the caravan travel for 6 months at a time, so they definitely see the world. They trade goods from far places, spreading cultures as they go, so they do make a difference. But for the most part, they don’t see themselves as Plato. They’re living their lives, doing their jobs, and that’s more than enough for them.

In one of the towns along the route, there is a centre where salt wells are dug. Holes are drilled into the mountainside and ladders are slipped into the salty water beneath. Women climb down the ladders, fill their barrels with salt water, then climb back out again. They carry the barrels up 20 km of uphill roads, pour the water in a drying pan, and go back to the well.

Each barrel of water weighs 15 kg, and they carry up to 12 barrels a day. Since the women live 5 km from the wells, they work from 4.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. The men stay home and take care of the farming, building, trading … and household chores.

As I watched those women walking up and down those hills with water on their backs, I felt sorry. I wasn’t sorry for them. I was sorry for me. The women looked so happy, like they were actually enjoying themselves. They laughed as they trudged along with their backs all bent, and their workclothes were bright and cheerful.

I envy them. That has to be the most boring job in the world, carrying heavy water up and down and up and down and up and down, all day, every day. Exhausting too. I don’t know how they do it. Yet they were happy. From what I could see, boredom wasn’t in their vocabulary. They just get up, work, eat, sleep.

For an ‘educated’ person like me, it seems like a waste, like an existence instead of a life. It seems like they could be doing so much more. But while I sit here with my thoughts and my depth and my philosophy, looking for motivation to work today, convincing myself to write instead of watching TV, I can’t help thinking they’re lucky. I can’t help wishing I had a mind frame as simple as theirs, a thought process that’s happy to walk, carry water, eat and sleep.

Some people would say that without the ‘brains’ of the world, we wouldn’t have books, electricity, ice cream, BMW. But these Tibetans seem to be doing just fine without them. I don’t know if there are kids born in that world who feel imprisoned, who long to be free, to fly planes, hold scalpels, to ditch the paycheque and watch Ben 10 instead. I sure didn’t see any on my screen.

Looking at those men and women, I think it’s them that are smart, not me. Their level of intellect is different from mine. Their genius is keyed on survival, and they don’t lose time with ideas and grand schemes. They simply survive, and they thrive. In an evolutionary chart, they’d be miles ahead of me, going and growing while I shrivelled in the hunger of ‘deep thinking’.

I wish I was more like that. I wish I didn’t have to rationalize work and have endless debates about whether or not I should force motivation or wait for inspiration. And the best part is, I wouldn’t even have to do  housework!

♫ Mad season ♫ Matchbox Twenty ♫

110 thoughts on “Sometimes I wish I was dumb”

  1. Much evil soon high in hope do view. Out may few northward believing attempted. Yet timed being songs marry one defer men our. Although finished blessing do of. Consider speaking me prospect whatever if. Ten nearer rather hunted six parish indeed number. Allowance repulsive sex may contained can set suspected abilities cordially. Do part am he high rest that. So fruit to ready it being views match.

  2. hi!,I love your writing so so much! share we keep in touch more approximately your article on AOL? I require a specialist on this house to resolve my problem. Maybe that is you! Taking a look ahead to see you.

  3. Fantastic items from you, man. I have be aware your stuff prior to and you’re simply too magnificent. I really like what you have bought right here, really like what you’re saying and the best way in which you say it. You are making it enjoyable and you continue to take care of to keep it wise. I cant wait to read much more from you. This is actually a terrific website.

  4. I keep listening to the reports talk about getting boundless online grant applications so I have been looking around for the most excellent site to get one. Could you tell me please, where could i find some?

  5. I have been surfing online more than three hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me. In my opinion, if all site owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the web will be a lot more useful than ever before.

  6. Greetings! I’ve been following your weblog for a while now and finally got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out from Humble Texas! Just wanted to mention keep up the good work!

  7. My brother suggested I might like this blog. He was entirely right. This post actually made my day. You can not imagine just how much time I had spent for this info! Thanks!

  8. I have been browsing online more than 3 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It is pretty worth enough for me. In my view, if all website owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the web will be a lot more useful than ever before.

  9. Wonderful beat ! I would like to apprentice while you amend your website, how can i subscribe for a blog site? The account aided me a acceptable deal. I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered bright clear idea

  12. You made some decent factors there. I seemed on the web for the problem and located most individuals will go together with with your website.

  13. I’ve been browsing online more than three hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me. Personally, if all webmasters and bloggers made good content as you did, the internet will be much more useful than ever before.

  14. I’ve been surfing on-line more than 3 hours today, yet I by no means found any attention-grabbing article like yours. It is beautiful price enough for me. Personally, if all site owners and bloggers made excellent content as you did, the web will be a lot more useful than ever before. “Wherever they burn books, they will also, in the end, burn people.” by Heinrich Heine.

  15. Hello there! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after browsing through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Anyhow, I’m definitely happy I found it and I’ll be bookmarking and checking back frequently!

  16. Hello there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it is truly informative. I am going to watch out for brussels. I’ll be grateful if you continue this in future. Lots of people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!

  19. You can definitely see your expertise within the work you write. The arena hopes for even more passionate writers like you who aren’t afraid to say how they believe. Always follow your heart. “He never is alone that is accompanied with noble thoughts.” by Fletcher.

  20. Hello, you used to write excellent, but the last few posts have been kinda boring… I miss your tremendous writings. Past several posts are just a bit out of track! come on!

  22. Great post. I was checking continuously this blog and I am impressed! Extremely useful information specially the last part 🙂 I care for such information much. I was seeking this particular information for a long time. Thank you and good luck.

  23. Thank you for sharing superb informations. Your web-site is very cool. I am impressed by the details that you’ve on this website. It reveals how nicely you understand this subject. Bookmarked this website page, will come back for extra articles. You, my friend, ROCK! I found simply the information I already searched everywhere and just couldn’t come across. What an ideal web site.

  24. Wow! This can be one particular of the most helpful blogs We’ve ever arrive across on this subject. Actually Wonderful. I’m also an expert in this topic so I can understand your hard work.

  26. My programmer is trying to persuade me to move to .net from PHP. I have always disliked the idea because of the costs. But he’s tryiong none the less. I’ve been using WordPress on a number of websites for about a year and am concerned about switching to another platform. I have heard very good things about blogengine.net. Is there a way I can transfer all my wordpress posts into it? Any help would be really appreciated!

  27. Wow, wonderful blog format! How lengthy have you been blogging for? you make running a blog glance easy. The full glance of your site is great, let alone the content material!

  29. Can I just say what a relief to seek out someone who really is aware of what theyre talking about on the internet. You undoubtedly know methods to convey a problem to mild and make it important. Extra individuals need to learn this and perceive this facet of the story. I cant believe youre not more standard since you definitely have the gift.

  31. Thank you so much for providing individuals with a very memorable opportunity to read critical reviews from this blog. It is usually very useful and also packed with a lot of fun for me and my office peers to search your site at the least 3 times weekly to study the new guides you have. Of course, I’m just actually fascinated with the special information you give. Selected 3 points on this page are honestly the most effective we have had.

  35. you are actually a excellent webmaster. The site loading velocity is incredible. It sort of feels that you are doing any distinctive trick. Furthermore, The contents are masterwork. you’ve done a magnificent task on this topic!

  37. I want to express my affection for your kind-heartedness for all those that really need help with that niche. Your real commitment to getting the solution all-around has been definitely effective and have frequently permitted individuals like me to arrive at their desired goals. Your entire warm and helpful instruction can mean a whole lot a person like me and substantially more to my colleagues. Thank you; from everyone of us.

  40. Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It if truth be told used to be a
    enjoyment account it. Glance complicated to far added agreeable from you!
    However, how can we keep in touch?

  42. Great – I should certainly pronounce, impressed with your web site. I had no trouble navigating through all tabs and related info ended up being truly simple to do to access. I recently found what I hoped for before you know it at all. Quite unusual. Is likely to appreciate it for those who add forums or something, site theme . a tones way for your customer to communicate. Nice task.

  45. Its like you learn my thoughts! You seem to know a lot about this, like you wrote the guide in it or something. I think that you could do with some percent to power the message home a little bit, but other than that, this is excellent blog. A fantastic read. I will certainly be back.

  46. What i don’t realize is actually how you are not really much more well-liked than you may be right now. You are very intelligent. You realize therefore considerably relating to this subject, produced me personally consider it from so many varied angles. Its like women and men aren’t fascinated unless it’s one thing to do with Lady gaga! Your own stuffs outstanding. Always maintain it up!

  47. you are in point of fact a excellent webmaster. The web site loading speed is incredible. It kind of feels that you are doing any unique trick. In addition, The contents are masterwork. you’ve done a fantastic activity on this topic!

  48. Woah! I’m really enjoying the template/theme of this blog.
    It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s tough
    to get that “perfect balance” between superb usability and visual appearance.
    I must say you have done a excellent job with this.
    Additionally, the blog loads very fast for me on Opera.
    Superb Blog!

  49. Hello There. I found your blog using msn. This is a really well written article. I’ll be sure to bookmark it and return to read more of your useful information. Thanks for the post. I will certainly return.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.