Freedom From Choice

I’ve been musing on ‘Freedom of Choice’: A.J. Jacobs talks about ‘Freedom from Choice’, quoting Albert Einstein who owned seven identical suits, so that he wouldn’t have to choose what to wear.

Jacobs tells of an experiment set up at a grocery store. Researchers set up two tables offering free jam tasting. One table had six flavours, the other had twenty-four. Nearly ten times more people bought jam from the table with six flavours. The researchers concluded that less choices is better.

Last night’s local news featured Norwich woman Abbey Platten and her three teammates reaching Antigua on Sunday, thirty-nine days after leaving the Canary Islands, completing 3,000 miles in ‘The World’s Toughest Row’.

Abbey said: ‘I was looking at my feet and just pulling away on the oars, hoping we were going in the right direction and that a wave wasn’t going to take us. All you could do was just keep rowing.’

Thirty-nine days, focusing on rowing, free from most of life’s choices.

I bought a new shed. Son-Pete helped me put it up. The flat-pack shed was delivered with door, windows, screws, roofing-felt… With my limited practical skills I appreciated the clear instructions. I wasn’t required to make difficult choices – just do each task in sequence as required.

Over the years I have played in bands with many good musicians. Once a song is started, and we’ve established a groove, the song takes its course. I don’t choose the melody, the rhythm or the harmony. That’s defined by the original composer and the performing musicians.

Musing… Parts of life where I don’t make conscious choices…

…The daily pattern of life – sleeping, eating, showering, exercising.

…Solid, secure relationships – a loving lasting marriage, accepting family, dependable, reliable friends.  

…The rhythm of my faith-life – daily prayer and Bible reflection, weekly prayer walks and meeting with my church family.

Life’s established choice-free pattern… noting Abbey’s dedicated focus… following clear shed-making instructions… catching the groove established by life’s composer and my fellow-musicians.