The current state of things...

"We live in a world obsessed with noise, speed, and activity. We live in an age paralyzed by greed, lust, and violence. This climate has a tendency to be seductive, and to influence us with the greatest subtlety. Often the effects are gradual, but over time they are dramatic, even devastating."
- Matthew Kelly

The effects of this pattern have created a time of personal, social and cultural crisis. The "symptoms" of these crises can be observed in all aspects of our daily living, from our thoughts to our disposition as a nation. As they continue to persist, we see them further manifest in our health, relationships and longevity. They are described as follows by an anonymous author:

"We have taller buildings, but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints; we spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy it less.

We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, but less time; we have more degrees, but less common sense; more knowledge, but less judgement; more experts, but more problems; more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry too quickly, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too seldom, watch TV too much, and pray too little.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and lie too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life; we've added years to life, but not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor.

We've conquered outer space, but not inner space; we've done larger things, but not better things; we've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul; we've split the atom, but not our prejudice; we write more, but learn less; plan more, but accomplish less.

We've learned to rush, but not to wait; we have higher incomes, but lower morals; more food, but less appeasement; more acquaintances, but fewer friends; more effort, but less success.
We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but have less communication; we've become long on quantity, but short on quality.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion; tall men and short character; steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare; more leisure and less fun; more kinds of food and less nutrition. These are the days of two incomes, but more divorce; of fancier houses, but broken homes. These are the days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one-night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.

It is a time when there is much in the show window, and nothing in the stockroom. Indeed it is all true."

As a people we have reached a point of do or die. We must re-root ourselves in what is true and what is real in order to begin living a life of fulfillment--physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually.

We all hold the power to change this situation in our personal lives. Our choices are our own and so is our wellness. Start with a simple change. Take twenty minutes out of your day to sit in silence and reflect. Get back to what is simple. Look at yourself in the mirror with empowerment. Reaffirm your self-discipline and avoid the path of least resistance. Life is our gift. Live it and enjoy it for the journey it is.


For more inspiration read Matthew Kelly's book: The Rhythm of Life