I’m going to tell you something that might make you uncomfortable, and honestly, I’m not sure I care anymore.
It’s everywhere, and it’s absolutely ruining our ability to think clearly about anything.
Take food, for example. You can’t just eat what makes you feel good and fits your budget anymore. That kind of reasonable, balanced approach doesn’t fit neatly into anyone’s marketing funnel.
We’ve become a culture of extremes, and it’s making us all a little crazy.
I’ve watched this play out in the homesteading world over and over again, and it drives me absolutely insane.
Then there’s the “modern homesteader” camp that embraces technology and convenience while incorporating traditional skills into contemporary life.
Here’s a wild idea: maybe there isn’t one right way to do anything.
Maybe the best approach for you depends on your specific circumstances, goals, resources, and personality.
Some years I’ve been more “hardcore” about doing everything from scratch. Other years I’ve embraced more shortcuts and conveniences because other priorities took precedence.
Some decisions are based on health concerns, others on budget constraints, others on time management, and others on pure personal preference.
And you know what? That’s perfectly fine.
I use a dishwasher. Hand-washing dishes takes forever. I’d rather spend that time in the garden. It’s necessary for our operation. I also try to combine trips. This helps reduce unnecessary driving.
These aren’t contradictions that need to be resolved or justified. They’re just the practical compromises that real life requires.
But our culture has become so obsessed with ideological purity that we can’t seem to handle this kind of practical flexibility anymore.
Everyone has to be ALL IN on their chosen approach, and anyone who makes different choices is clearly doing it wrong.
This is particularly ridiculous when it comes to health and nutrition, where individual variation is enormous and what works beautifully for one person might be terrible for another.
None of these approaches is universally right or wrong.
But try saying that in most nutrition discussions and watch people lose their minds. Everyone’s convinced that their way is THE way, and anyone who suggests otherwise is clearly just making excuses or hasn’t tried hard enough.
This kind of thinking isn’t just annoying—it’s actively harmful.
It prevents us from learning from each other because we’re too busy defending our chosen position to actually listen to different perspectives.
It creates unnecessary guilt and anxiety in people who are doing their best but don’t fit perfectly into any particular category.
And it turns every life choice into a source of stress and judgment instead of just… life choices.
So here’s my radical proposal: let’s stop joining so many damn bandwagons.
Let’s stop feeling like we have to pick a tribe and defend it against all competing tribes.
Let’s get comfortable with saying things like:
“This works well for me, but I understand it might not work for everyone.”
“I’m still figuring this out and my approach might change as I learn more.”
“I do some things the traditional way and other things the modern way, depending on what makes sense for my situation.”
“I’m not an expert on what’s best for your family, but I’m happy to share what’s worked for mine.”
I’m not saying we should never have strong opinions or principles. Some things really are worth taking a stand on.
But most of the stuff we get worked up about? Most of the lifestyle choices and personal preferences we turn into battlegrounds?
They’re really not that serious. They’re just different ways of solving the same basic human problems.
So maybe we could all take a step back, take a deep breath, and remember that life is messy and complicated and most of us are just doing our best with the information and resources we have.
Wouldn’t that be refreshing?
