The environments we live significantly influence all lives. Living in a big city and living in a small town both presents benefits of their location. Small towns offer fewer options that large cities, but people living it are healthy and happy. In big cities, too many choices lead to stressing life. A recent psychological research suggested that increase in choices might itself lead to unhappiness (Schwartz 835). Small towns have certain aspects and qualities that one cannot enjoy while living in large cities. In contrast to living in large cities, I find life in small towns enjoyable, because of the closer relationship with the neighbors and a much healthier pace of life.
The main advantage of living in large cities is convenience and availability of modern facilities. Big cities are usually more advanced and industrialized. This makes it easy to access all utilities in large cities with the least effort and time. For example, if, in need of a Smartphone, one can go to a nearby shopping mall and choose from the available varieties of more than 2000 smart phones. However, in a small town, it is probable that one has to travel a longer distance to access such things. Consequently, living in big cities has its own benefits. However, according to Schwartz, availability of a wide choice to make often makes people regret the decisions they make (836). Additionally, psychological research has indicated that people are increasingly unhappy even as they experience greater abundance and freedom of choice (Schwartz 835). This makes living in small towns more enjoyable than living in large cities.
Small towns offer some values that are more important and more difficult to achieve. Such values include enjoyment of comfort and warm of humanity, nature, and the inner strength of enlightenment. Big cities deny people the chance to enjoy the beauty of nature. Industries, technology, and skyscrapers eliminate the beauty of nature to introduce the advancement of humanity. However, people should enjoy and appreciate the qualities of nature (Gertner 44). Those who realize the importance of the qualities should live in small towns. Another advantage of small cities is warmth and comfort of humanity. Large cities usually have a busy lifestyle that people often forget the importance of those around them. With the many things that people consider important in their lives, other people play a significant role in our lives (Gertner 44). Additionally, because of the large number of people in big cities, it becomes difficult to cooperate as a community. These are possible in small towns where people live as neighbors and know each other.
Living in a small town is also important because it allows people to achieve inner realization of spiritual strength. In big cities, people are often occupied by work and the external world. In many occasions, people lose their real selves in the world full of deceptions. Humans are wired to adapt as they cannot be happy with what they have forever, meaning that they will always change things. Schwartz has divided people into two groups, maximisers and satisfier. Satisfiers are those who choose that is “good enough,” while maximisers always try to get the best product. Interestingly, satisfiers usually find happiness with their choice, while maximisers seldom find happiness, often regretting their purchase. Barry Schwartz draws a conclusion that the current abundance of choice often leads to depression and feeling of loneliness and isolation (838).
In conclusion, despite some of the disadvantages of living in small towns, they still offer the best environment to achieve greater happiness.
Works cited:
Gertner, Jon. The futile pursuit of happiness. New York Times Magazine. 7 Sep 2003: 44. Print.
Schwartz, Barry. The Tyranny of Choice.
