The Old and the New

In my world this winter has been harsh with snowstorms following each other. While some folks might not have been too pleased with that reality, others who ski and snowshoe are still enjoying the white stuff.

            And there is another enjoyable winter activity that it seems to me has found a revival in the last few months: sleigh rides. A couple of weeks ago, two young neighbours were thrilled to tell me how they had fun as a farmer took them around his property in an old-fashioned sleigh complete with the classic “jingle” bells, a cluster of them hanging to the front panel of the sleigh. To them, horse drawn sleighs are a wonderful new conveyance.

            I know better. I remember as a child riding in a sleigh in winter with my grandparents. It was always a treat. And we kept cozy warm with heavy fur blankets generously provided by the local fauna. Today, these great fur blankets would cause a riot, but I wonder what is worse: using animal pelts to keep warm or riding in a car that spews garbage into the atmosphere?

            The heaters in cars keep us warm today, but there is something to be said for getting your lungs filled with fresh air when you ride in a sleigh. Perhaps that’s what my young neighbours so enjoyed on their ride.

            Each evolutionary step, like most things in life, has its pros and its cons. The old ways were not always the best and most comfortable, but modern ones are not necessarily better for us and our planet. Luckily I think we have advanced to a point where improvements are forever found and adopted. Case in point, soon, everybody will be driving electric cars.

            Our planet is sure to thank us for finding a way to get inspired by the old as we bravely face the new.