The Talmud (Eruvin 56a) records that any town which has high hills and low valleys, the people who reside there will become prematurely old.

Rashi comments that the reason for this is that since it is difficult to navigate the high and low terrain, people get tired out and prematurely age.

This Gemara is somewhat enigmatic.

After all, why would the rabbis canonize this seemingly mundane statement for posterity?

Is this so vital and even so compelling a statement that we should never live in a city which has hills and valleys?

Perhaps the Gemara is teaching us something totally different. We live in a time where everything has to be the biggest and best. No longer are we satisfied with simple pleasures and modest vacations. People seem to need greater ‘highs’ which ultimately lead to lower ‘lows.’

Perhaps what the Gemara was referring to is that we should all attempt to live our lives on an even and stable keel. The contemporary push for greater and higher excitement will only guarantee us lower lows.

It’s nice to have some excitement in one’s life; however, when the need to have an exciting life causes a person to sacrifice their sense of balance and equilibrium that can be plain devastating.

Have a wonderful ‘not-too-eventful’ day!

 

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