So, I was sitting on my couch one evening after work a couple of weeks ago and my wife was close by in her chair working on her laptop, it had been a long day....one of those days. "Why are people so unhappy, so miserable?" I asked. Her reply, "I don't know." She got it. I didn't have to elaborate. She understood exactly where I was coming from. We had thrown this question around before, this wasn't the first time by any means, but now was the time we were going to seriously discuss. We do this from time to time, really break down a question we have about people, society, the planet, what it all means, where it's all headed.
So what's different? There's definitely been a shift the last few years, a shift that's left individuals without a smile, without joy, without something to look forward to. It's gotten to the point that even a little common courtesy or friendliness is getting even more difficult to find. People have gone into a sort of 'personal security' mode, a self-centered state that's far from the 'Hey, neighbor!' M.O. so many of us grew up with and actually still lived daily up until recently. So what is it? What's different? What's changed with the 'personal happiness' (pH) factor?
What was really getting to me that night, sitting on the couch, was my encounter earlier that day with a couple of individuals from the corporate health program I spend part of my week managing. I had received some serious, uncalled-for attitude from members of our onsite yoga class. Yes, that's right, attitude over something so ridiculous I was left shaking my head wondering how is it that members of a class known for balance, calmness, centered-ness, and in general, understanding, are so out of touch, angry and unhappy? How is that? And that's what put me over the top...had me finally asking, "What are things coming to?"
I think I know what the general 'feel' is, why so many individuals are unhappy, why so many people are stressed and losing touch with themselves and what their lives used to be about for them. But I want to hear from you, I want your impressions on where society is at for the moment, what people are feeling. It's an interesting discussion and one I hope uncovers some insightful ideas around moving forward with a different outlook.
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