Time for a little reflection:
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 sense; more knowledge, but less
judgment; more experts, but more problems; more medicine, but less
wellness. We 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 seldom.
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, 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; we have 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, but less nutrition.
These are days of two incomes, but more divorce; of fancier houses, but
broken homes.
These are 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's all true. Think about it...
Sara Sullivan, Ph.D.
Departments of Psychology and Women's Studies
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse