Getting Out of Touch

We have so many ways to stay in touch and check in with each other these days that it makes a person’s head spin. Email and cell phones have been revolutionary enhancements to our lives, and after all of these years it’s hard to imagine life without them. Add to that the many social networking sites, Twitter, instant messaging, GPS systems…and it starts to feel like we’re supposed to keep everyone constantly apprised of our every move and every thought in our heads. Maybe we’re going too far. Sometimes it’s refreshing to spend time alone; a good, healthy dose of escapism is good for the soul. It’s also good to be present with our friends when we are spending physical time with them, rather than allowing ourselves to be distracted by phone calls and other pulling and tugging from outside sources. Allow yourself to get out of touch every once in a while and reap the benefits of tuning out and focusing your attention on the present moment.

Proud to be an American?

How many of us are truly proud to call ourselves Americans? We do live in the "land of opportunity" and "it's a free country", but things aren't necessarily all that rosy these days. The president we had through most of this past decade was a source of embarrassment for a lot of us, and our economy is growing ever darker right now. There are a shocking amount of corrupt people in politics, business, banking, etc. Admittedly, people usually will say that we're lucky to be born in the United States, particularly if you’re born into a good family. We have a lot of advantages, comforts, and opportunities that are not available in many other countries. However, is that enough of a reason to be proud to be an American? Some of us are proud to live in a certain city, or proud of our state; some are content to say that they are making a positive difference in their own little family/neighborhood/corner of the world. Maybe that’s really what’s important, because you can have a powerful impact in the smallest ways. Are you proud of yourself as a human being?