The Contradiction

We are seeing one of the biggest contradictions in history happen before our young eyes:

Pharmaceutical companies are improving the quality of our daily lives life.

Breakthroughs in medicine are letting us survive more accidents and diseases than ever.

Never before we have taken care of our health and fitness, worrying about what we eat, how we sleep and the exercise we do as much as now.

The result of all of this is that we are living longer.

We have more time.

On the other hand…

Corporations are looking for the young gems, trying to find the next genius twenty-something.

Kids finishing highschool and college are starting their own companies as soon as possible, so they can fund the next Facebook.

Education is hurrying us up to have as many degrees as fast as we can in order to be able to compete at the top (whatever that means).

The result of all of this is that we have to run to keep up.

We have less time.

Do you see the contradiction?

We are acting as if life were a race, constantly competing against each other, holding other people’s success as standardized goals. We are worrying about speed instead of direction. Our addiction to productivity and accomplishment is taking away the joy of today’s quality of life.

This would be fine if people were happier, if today’s youth were cheerful about their situation. But that’s not what’s happening, the burden is too heavy for many of them.

This is what happens when you’re constantly moving, constantly comparing, constantly winning: few get ahead, many quit, and many more just get frustrated.

I do believe that we have to invest and work hard when we are young, but we also have to understand that we have a lot of time ahead of us.

Don’t believe what they tell you, there is no rush.

It’s ok to unplug, it’s ok to relax.

It’s ok to slow down when you no longer see what’s happening out the window.

After all, the whole point of living longer is to live better.