Reality Wasteland....

I had a professor in college make a joke about auto racing. He commented that he figured that spectators went and watched waiting for a crash. He talked about how he failed to see the point in going if it wasn't to see a fiery crash. I think of this comment as I see what television has become. I guess people watch just to watch the scandals associated with the demise of the shows. Wait long enough and there will be a sex related scandal that gets them off the air. Honey Boo Boo's momma dropped her husband and decided to date an alleged ( or not so alleged) sex offender, The Kardashians have had too many scandals to mention and continue to air dirty laundry, the Dugger's apparent mirage of clean laundry is unraveling and there is some really nasty stuff. These are just a few of the many scandals including divorces, prison sentences and dysfunction associated with television today. Have you wondered why you are watching or perhaps have chosen not to watch these so called reality shows? What is the attraction? Is it a way to compare our lives to others and perhaps feel superior? Honey Boo Boo's show was really sad. An American family that required subtitles in their own country, the mother taking her young daughter to pageants and dressing her up and having her wear make up to parade around and attempt to win prizes. There is really very little , if any value to watching such dysfunction. What happened to reading, crafts , and an other activity that does not involve watching a family totally embarrass themselves on television or highlight a family that feels it is acceptable to breed their own community. Are the Duggers at 19 children? 20? Really? As reality television became more popular, and labor was cheap, there have been less professional actors involved in the craft of entertainment. It just doesn't seem healthy to me. There are many more productive things, in my opinion, than to watch these sad, pathetic shows. The human mind needs challenge and like any muscle needs to be exercised. Sitting and watching dysfunctional families have breakdowns is just not healthy. Grab a book, go outside, listen to music expand your mind before it's too late.

Get Off The Phone!

I was somewhat impacted yesterday as I was riding around town, I couldn't believe how many people were on their phones on a Sunday morning! As I looked at cars that passed, I saw beautiful children in their cars with a parent on their cell phone. I am not even going to discuss the safety concerns, I am just highlighting the sadness of this all. Why are they on their phones? It's Sunday. Is it social, is it work? Really? As these cars passed, I saw these beautiful children just staring out the windows with blank expressions. Again, what is so important and why can't it wait? I remember being a kid and riding with my parents in their car. It seemed like a time to talk. Maybe we have some how lost the ability to talk to humans that are actually in the same physical space with us. What I witnessed yesterday seemed like lost opportunities to begin bonding with children. I see it in stores too, the parent, up ahead on the phone grabbing things from the isles, as kids follow. Relationships with your children are not established when they become teenagers and you want them to do as you say. They start at the birth of the child. Teenagers have told me many times that they have nothing in common with their parents and have never really talked or done things together ,so why then? The teenage years are a time for the child to grow and begin his/her development as an adult, the time to bond with children is when they are young. Most parents have to work and time left for family, for a married/committed relationship, children, is precious. Be more mindful of opportunities that present themselves. A Sunday morning drive is an opportunity to become more mindful of your surroundings and work on developing a healthy relationship with your companion, even if it's your family dog. Aren't they cute when they see something they like or just looking at you with adoring eyes? It's time to wake up and realize we have to put the phone down and look around. This is also an issue at bagel shops and bakeries, just get off the phone and pay attention!