Modern life

The future is yet unmapped.

They say everything has already been done

Or written, or thought of before.

Until something new happens

That random element of chance

That idea that forms in a person’s head.

When I was young I believed there were

Sane people and crazy people.

One of my best mates, Dean

a man who I admire greatly

Put me straight.

“Pete” he said

“we are all crazy, just in our own way”

and I am reminded of that immortal line from a

Simon and Garfunkle song

“I don’t have a friend who feels at ease

I don’t know a soul that’s not been shattered or

driven to its knees”

A study once stated that happiness is 50% inbuilt.

The rest is up to you.

We have a responsibility to ourselves to find what it is

That makes us content.

Happiness is an illusion. You can feel happy,

you can do things that make you happy

but you cant keep it.

It’s a byproduct of action or inaction.

And the modern world isn’t exactly helpful

We are almost delivered into a world of addiction.

Booze, screens, sugar, sex, gambling, shopping

Rewiring the brain constantly with desire.

Dopamine

Rewards are out there no doubt, but this modern world

It’s a struggle.

Recently one of my best mates has told me he is bipolar.

The ups were great, the downs terrible.

The result was medication and the accompanying

Flatline.

Remove desire, remove emotion, remove addiction.

Problem is that’s what makes life exciting.

Meditation and self reflection are surely the key

Control over your own desires

Physical health and balance.

Key concepts in the prescription for well being.

But hey, I’ve got a product to sell you.

Its what you want, what you desire.

It’s a better you.

Do it and you can improve everything.

Or it wont,

because nothing really works.

Increasingly we are sold a lie.

My wife studied Yoga teaching

There was a lot of emphasis on being present.

Not just here, but being really here and now.

Not being distracted

Not being driven

Just being.

She put it better than anyone

“we are human beings, not human doings”

totally at odds with modern life.