Society is moving in opposite directions. That's right, there's a chasm developing, and it's growing at an increasing rate. The younger generation have to decide for themselves: do they follow the footsteps of their parents and try to overachieve their successes by working 70 hours a week instead of 60? Or do they decide to toss it all in the trash and go their own easy route, acting as unaffected by their choices as much as possible.
Today we see kids of all ages playing Halo 2, shopping for the cutest outfit, sportin' the cleanest kicks, etc, all to no avail. There will come a time in their life, most likely when they graduate college, that they have to decide when to settle. Some never do. Others do a nose-dive into their work, sacrificing all their fun-life.
Lets go back at least a century. Mom cleaned house, sewed, cooked, bought goods, and her respective daughters followed her lead. Pop worked the farm, fixed the roof, met in the city gates, and his sons followed suit. Not so today. Today is about being an individual, deciding your own course, the "We're not gonna take it" attitude. That's what is setting this society up for failure, and we're getting deeper in it as we continue.
Just look at the lower class compared to the yuppies. They can arguable be of the same age, and I would even argue similar upbringing in most cases. Both extremes lead to a broken home life; poor quality relationships. They are chasing their own dreams, whether it be in money, power, fun, or inevitably happiness.
Is that all what life is cracked up to be? Your own personal happiness? If we were to survey the world for the happiest individuals of all age race and gender, I think all fingers would point to children. Heck, they haven't been stained by the world's corruption yet. They're not worried about their shoes, their chubby cheeks, creditors, and they especially don't ponder about their own happiness -- they just live.
So back to us. Where do we stand, and why? Before I venture into the world of philosophies and the meaning of life, let me exit on this point: Worry less, and live carefree like a child at times (not irresponsibly, yet do not clench onto your heart so tightly -- let it roam and chase after it).
Mark
