Ordinary Abundance
Points and comments are a snapshot, not live.
A walk through modern conveniences, each once a breathtaking luxury.
The site guides the reader through an apartment, stopping at each ordinary object to pair it with a historical quotation marveling at its invention. Music on demand, electric light, art reproductions, photography, spectacles, the telegraph, printing, clean water, imported fruit, refrigeration, spices, vaccination, anesthesia, indoor plumbing, the bicycle, the washing machine, the sewing machine, central heating, and flight are all presented as recent miracles that have become invisible. The piece argues that recapturing this awe honors past efforts and restores gratitude for the present.
What commenters are saying
Top commenters focus on hedonic adaptation, agreeing that it is nearly impossible to sustain appreciation for modern marvels. Several suggest periodic deprivation as a remedy: power outages, camping, or a trip to the developing world. A counterpoint notes that romanticizing pre-modern life ignores genuine hardship and the fragile infrastructure supporting current comfort. One commenter recalls COVID as a large-scale reminder of dependency on supply chains and electricity. The thread balances gratitude for progress with acknowledgment of the human tendency to adapt and focus on what is missing.