The Way We Were

It’s official: we are not the way we used to be. That may not sound too dramatic, but it is true in so many ways. Just a short time ago:

1.    There was no such thing as the internet.

2.    Cell phones were not a necessary appendage.

3.    People actually spoke to each other on the phone.

4.    People met the old fashioned way- not through the internet.

5.    There was no such thing as “global warming.”

6.    You could get a decent sized apartment in NYC for under one million dollars.

7.    Food either tasted good or bad; no distinction made between organic and inorganic.

8.    You actually had to “buy” music, instead of streaming it.

9.    Television was a rather fixed affair, and you had virtually no control over programming.

10.  Meditation was something gurus did in India.

It is truly amazing how much the world has shifted, and it is changing even more as we speak. The real challenge for all of us is to try to maintain a sense of peace and balance, even when our world can be altered, or pulled out from under us, at any minute. This is not an easy task for anyone, and under these conditions it becomes so important who we are close to, who we spend the most time with.

That’s because whether we like it or not, we are going to absorb the energy of the people and experiences that we spend the most time with. And this is not a bad thing. It only behooves us to choose very carefully how we fill our day, and to make sure that we reserve some time in our day to just process things. This is essential at any time, but especially in these times of rapid change. Not to have some down time, not to respect ourselves, our bodies, and spirits, is to tempt the worst possible forces.

If there was ever a time for genuine self-love, it is right now. One thing that remains constant: the importance of savoring  your life to the nth degree.