Paradox Of Our Times

Dragonfly by Brian Day

PARADOX OF OUR TIMES

Today, we have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, but less time; we have more degrees, but less common sense; more knowledge, but less judgment.

We have more experts, but more problems; more medicine, but less wellness.

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

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.

We talk too much, love too little and lie too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life; we've added years to life, not life to years.

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'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 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.

We build more computers to hold more information to produce more copies, but have less communication.

We are 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.

We are experiencing more leisure and less fun; more kinds of food, but less nutrition; two incomes, but more divorce; fancier houses, but broken homes.

This is the paradox of our times today.

That's why I propose, that as of today, you do not keep anything for a special occasion, because every day that you live is a special occasion.

Search for knowledge, read more, sit on your front porch and admire the view without paying attention to your needs.

Spend more time with your family and friends, eat your favorite foods, and visit the places you love.

Life should be a chain of moments of enjoyment, it should not be only about survival.

Use your crystal goblets.  Do not save your best perfume, but use it every time you feel you want to wear it.

Remove from your vocabulary phrases like "one of these days" and "someday".

Let's write that letter we thought about writing, today, and not wait until someday.

Let's tell our families and friends how much we love them.

Do not delay anything that adds laughter and joy to your life.

Every day, every hour, and every minute is special.  And you don't know if it will be your last.

If you're too busy to take the time to send this message to someone you care about, and you tell yourself, "I  will send it, one of these days", just think... "one of these days" you may not be here to send it!

*  Edition 2010-10-31 by Herbert K. Lau

    Translated