The paradox of choice

So, I'm not only getting an education in nature and myself here, in Yellowstone, but also in the human race in general. Well, at least in Americans in general. (And I only say "Americans" because I don't hear callers from Germany, France, England and Canada do this when they're making reservations with us for some reason.) Let me preface this with an awesome video that started me thinking in this direction to begin with a few months ago...

This a video from a talk given at the Ted conference by Barry Schwartz, who wrote the book called, The Paradox of Choice. Such a serious title, but the talk is funny and enlightening. To summarize, he argues that having more choices when presented with a decision actually diminishes the satisfaction in one's decision once they make it. This is because it seems to be in Americans' natures to think and compare their final choice to all of the ones they could've made instead. Of course this creates dissatisfaction!

If you have 19 mins to spare, check this video out!

So, to bring this topic back to Yellowstone... I've noticed, while working in Reservations for the Park, that people tend to be dissatisfied with their choices of rooms or cabins when they know they could potentially have "something better." Meaning, a room with 2 queen sized beds instead of 2 doubles, or a cabin with a bathroom in it, instead of walking outside to a separate bathroom building. Or a room in a different location in the Park than the location they currently have booked. People want "something better" so much, that some will actually call once everyday, and withstand a 30 minute to 1 hour wait time on the phone, just to finally get through to see if "something better" has opened up. And most of the time it hasn't. But all I can keep thinking is, "How much of your life have you spent waiting for something better?"

Would it not make more sense for one to accept what he or she has been given, be grateful for it, and enjoy living life?

Not to get too dark - I just feel so strongly about this that I need to post about it. Nothing hits this point right on the nose like the few calls that I get that go like this:

"My wife is terminally ill, and this will be our last trip together. We'll just be happy if you have anything open for these dates."

"I need to cancel my reservation because my husband is ill - we made these reservations a year ago, but weren't expecting him to be getting surgery at all."

"My wife has cancer, and she really wanted to visit Yellowstone, so we are splurging and doing this last minute trip."

"My wife and I are 85 years old, and the last time we stayed at the Old Faithful Inn was in 1967 with our two teenage sons. We're so happy we get to stay there again, even if there's no bathroom in the room!"

Life will never be perfect, and it is a short and beautiful journey. I think it is the imperfections in life (and on vacations) that make it more interesting and memorable. I wish a wonderful one for you.