I came across this recently and thought it appropriate to ponder going into a new year. George Carlin wrote this shortly after his wife died.
A Message by George Carlin:
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy 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, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, 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 hate 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 a new neighbor. We 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 conquered the atom but not our prejudice. We write more but learn less. We plan more but accomplish less. We’ve learned to rush but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, 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 showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete…
Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.
Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.
Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn’t cost a cent.
Remember, to say, ‘I love you’ to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.
Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
If you don’t send this to at least 8 people….Who cares?
George Carlin
4 responses so far ↓
1 Mangochild // Jan 4, 2009 at 5:45 am
“more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge , but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.”
“We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life. We’ve added years to life, not life to years.”
This part particularly resonated with me, it seems so true. The more we have, the more we seem to lose at the same time somehow. It can be hard to keep sight of in the life’s whirlwind… sometimes when there is the moment of calmness I can bring these thoughts to mind and it seems so clear and do-able, but the the tide comes in and off the whirlwind goes again.
Friday evening was one of the quiet times, and for those couple hours, when I felt like I was really present and *living*, it was amazing. It felt like the *real me* could come through. And then, unfortunately, the moments passed and back to the normal cycle.
I wish we could all try to hang on to that awareness expressed by George Carlin.
2 maya // Jan 4, 2009 at 11:46 am
Hi Mangochild, I completely agree. I got to the point some time ago where I decided to actively change my own patterns (work, spending, etc) so that I could focus more on what I think life is really about. Things still get hectic, but overall I think I will have far fewer regrets than I would have had I continued working too much and wasting money. I hope more instances like Friday evening are headed your way – it is all we really have and it is a shame to let the spin of the world destroy the short time we have on it.
3 Katie // Jan 4, 2009 at 6:36 pm
George Carlin’s words in this short piece are exactly what people need to hear. I know that many of the conversations I have with those closest to me revolve around figuring out just what Carlin is talking about. How to have a good life with good friends and keep things simple. Happy. Healthy. I see it as a very positive message, thanks for the reminder that we need to take time with those we love. I think I needed to hear the advice the most.
4 maya // Jan 7, 2009 at 3:39 pm
Hey Katie, I’m glad George hit a note with you (It definitely resonated with me). Funny how figuring out how to achieve simplicity can be so complex, eh?
Leave a Comment