the art of living

I understand that this might just be the way I feel but I am very sure that a lot of others feel the same. Or so I am told…

Growing up as a kid I remember being around people. Family, friends, not just on special occasions. Not every day, but a lot of weekends, Holidays. I remember my parents having 2 kids, working and enjoying life at the same time.

Now as an adult in my 30s I don’t see my life being like that. Family is around on Birthdays and other special occasions. Friend meet ups every few months. Going out for some sort of entertainment, again, happens as a special occasion.

What happens on a daily basis then? Work ,home, text messages. Isolation. And even though you have different ways of communicating with people, even people from other countries, nobody is really there. Just you.

Time and money is limited. Everyone is tired. Everyone is busy. A message is enough. But is it? What happened to let’s go for a coffee? Let’s go for dinner, a drink, a walk. Shall I come around for a bit? Even a phone call, so that you can hear another voice.

“Human beings are social animals. We were social before we were human.” Peter Singer

What have we done? What have we created? A world of isolation and loneliness. No time for us and for others. How long are we going to last? We are social beings! We survive on communication, interaction,  exchange of energy. It’s ok to work all day and stress about paying the bills, feeling knackered at the end of the week, not wanting to do anything or see anyone.

But what if we could go for a quick drink at the end of that shift? Meet up for a coffee or a walk on that sunny weekend? Go for a nice dinner or drink once a month, or more if possible? Make that phone call when we need it? Talk about not just the good and convenient but also the problems, the everyday struggles? How much fuller our life would be! More vibrant and colourful! With more joy and energy. How difficult or easy would that be? Because every time I have said I will do it, I don’t… Don’t know why… And now I feel more isolated than ever… I want to change… I hope it’s not too late. But I can’t do it on my own… we all need to change… we all need to take a step forward… Make the call, plan the visit, get out of that box… I wish for a better future, for us and our kids. I wish not all gets lost in time.

Goodnight!