HomeHomeJanuary 2002
As another new year begins, Americans continue to be in a reflective national mood. On the one hand, we are relieved that the turbulent events of the past year are behind us, which we won’t soon forget and which we are still struggling to understand. Yet, we are also looking forward to a fresh new start (though most New Year’s resolutions have been forgotten by now!).
Our lives and thoughts about New Year’s goals and dreams are made all the more poignant by the events of last year. The terrorist attacks have forced us to think long and hard about our role in the world, and about our collective destiny and individual legacies.
In the Northern Hemisphere, where the New Year and winter coincide, nature itself forces us to slow down a bit. It is a good time for new plans, goals, dreams of the future. Yet, our challenge as Americans is to find the time for deep thinking and solid reflection in a culture so fast-paced that we take our lack of time for granted.
Even our entertainment reflects how our culture has changed over the last several decades. For example, the plots of action-adventure films such as the very first James Bond movies, "Dr. No" (1962) and "From Russia With Love" (1963) were slower-paced than the same genre today, and allowed time for character and dialogue development. Even the plots of classic comedies such as "The Return of the Pink Panther" (1974) or "Young Frankenstein" (1974) seem to crawl along compared to the comedies of today.
We have grown used to being entertained quickly, and this extends not only to the way we consume our news and information, but also the ways in which we live our lives. When most Baby Boomers were children, they were responsible for their own entertainment. The World War II generation did not program and schedule their children’s lives the way parents do today. The more leisurely pace of life back then allowed for unstructured time and fewer distractions. There were only three television networks, and video games did not exist!
In a rushed world, our attention spans have grown short. Yet, we miss so much when we live at a breakneck pace. The shades and subtleties of life are lost on us. However, when we take time to truly listen and observe life around us, we become more aware and we also appreciate life’s deeper dimensions. For example, taking time away from work and other distractions for a gut-level conversation with a loved one, or even a solitary walk around the neighborhood to appreciate the beauty of nature, can get us in touch with what really matters in our lives.
We must learn to listen to ourselves, as well as those we love and care about. The way to do this is consciously to take time away from the "busyness" of our lives to focus on the present moment. It is the only way to make time "slow down." When we make a habit of carving out some "down" time for ourselves, we learn to prioritize our values. We are better able to find the balance that we so desperately need. Slowing down will not only help our physical and mental health as individuals, but it will allow us to revisit, thoughtfully and with renewed appreciation, our fundamental values as a nation in this post-September 11th world.
Teresa
tcallies@hotmail.comNews, Resources, and Interesting Tidbits:
On January 21st, we honor the life and enduring legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., whose efforts to make America a better place for African-Americans inspired a generation of those who fought for basic Civil Rights.
Do Something is "a nationwide network of young people who know they can make a difference in their communities and take action to change the world around them. As part of Do Something, young people are asked what they want to do to make things better and then are given the resources and support to bring their unique visions to life." This organization honors the memory of Dr. King by offering the "do something kindness and justice challenge".
The January edition of Simplycity magazine offers stories of six inspiring women, including Marian Wright Edelman, founder and President of the Children’s Defense Fund. Ms. Edelman helped Dr. King organize the Poor People’s March in Washington in 1968. Her commitment to the welfare of the nation’s children is an inspiration. She is a national treasure.
Copyright © 1995-2007 Gary Johnson Communications. All rights reserved. BraveNewWorkWorld, NewWork, NewWork News, Careers in the NewWork World, WITNE, and WITNE: Women in the New Economy are trademarks of Gary Johnson Communications.