Do we need to slow down?

[LVSteve]

As long ago as the 1980's when I was still relatively young I have wondered if the pace of life was detracting from the quality. It was the "loads o' money!" and "Look at my wad!" period when the London Stock Exchange and the City financial institutions were going nuts.

I started seeing that most folk were becoming materialistic to a degree that I no longer wanted to hang out with them. I also saw the toll it was taking. People were getting more irritable, short tempered and generally unpleasant to be with.

Take a look at this article from the BBC. It sums up much of what I have been saying for 25 years. It compares UK life to that in Denmark. Maybe the Danes are just more laid back than the average Anglo-Saxon and that this kind of "slow down" thing would not work in Britain or the US. I know I decluttered my life with regard to hobbies, joining clubs and the like many years ago.

What does the hive think.

BBC News - Pace of modern life: UK v Denmark

 

[shouldazagged]

Don't know about the rest of the hive, but it's a subject of concern to this old drone. I had to retire for health reasons just before my 71st birthday. That was five years ago. Now I have no money, but remarkable peace of mind--though I was never part of the corporate rat race, as I worked in some kind of mental health programs most of my career.

The ones I worry about are the kids, who in too many cases are getting too little parental attention because of the pressure on the parents, and are expected to engage in endless after-school activities that are structured to the hilt. Add in the "social media" stuff, with its dangers as well as its opportunities, and I wonder what kind of adults they will become.

Free, improvised, goofy play seems to be a vanishing thing. I think the kids are poorer for that.

 

[snubbyfan]

We moved out to the mountains of West Virginia after 911 so we can slow down and breathe. We had enough of the beaurocrats, crackheads and terrorists of the Washington DC area.
Now with my disability I've got a chance to relax a bit more and enjoy life. My wife works as a home health care aid and only works 3 days a week so we get more time together.

 

[DR505]

Not much of one for "hive think."

But yes, this wired era we live in is designed for interactions of 168 characters or less. How can any such relationship be of value? People are too materialistic and they don't take the time for real friendships (not the kind where you click a button on a web page).

Most people need to listen more and talk less. Too many want to be in the limelight, so it is all about themselves. I feel sorry for them...that seems like an empty and shallow way to go through life.

 

[357-RevolverGuy]

I feel like the world has been moving toward a pace of immediate/instant gratification and that people are forgetting what it means to be patient anymore, or to reflect on their thoughts and hold themselves accountable to what they say or do. No one wants to work and then wait for a reward. It feels like in areas from my workplace to even outside of work, out in my everyday life, that there's this insane urgency for everything to be done right away. Why? It's going to drive the human race mad.

 

[finesse_r]

I slowed down a long time ago. On rare occasions, for about 5 seconds, I miss the hectic pace.

 

[rwsmith]

More self centered

And only interested in instant self gratification. I saw an article where food stamps won't buy baby diapers and what a burden that is to people. My parents cleaned, washed, dried and folded cloth diapers for five children. I realize that all people are not like this but a larger and larger percentage of people are. I could rant on but what's the use.

 

[charlie sherrill]

I've never had a large amount of money but I've always found things to enjoy that I could afford. I really enjoyed my career even though it didn't pay a lot. I'm retired now and have about the same amount of money coming in and find pleasure in things that I never had time to do before. If there is something special I want to do and my play money is low I pull out a safe queen or something that I paid little for and don't shoot or use anymore and sell it and go play. I go to a lot of gun shows, flea markets, auctions, antique stores, yard sales, estate sales, etc. and look for underpriced stuff to supplement my retirement and I enjoy it a lot. I'm basically low maintainance but always keep an eye out for something I can make a little something on to keep me traveling. The problem is that I tend to keep a lot of stuff that I find. Then I find it later on and realize I don't really need it and sell it and keep moving on.

 

[wbraswell]

I have always believed that we make our lives way too complicated and frustrating. I never wanted a job that followed me home after quitting time. I know that stress is something that only exists between your ears, and I try to avoid it at all costs. I avoid debt, I don't like to owe anybody. I really don't worry about the world, I'm more concerned about my community. I have to admit, that I am way too materialistic. Like Charlie, I just keep too much stuff.

 

[Marshwheeling]

What does the hive think.

It thinks we need more of this:
Bumble Boogie/B.Bumble and the Stingers - YouTube

 

[Hayden]

Im the opposit I guess. I went out 5 years ago when gas was high and got another job. Im single so it was easy and no one at home to complain. I just wanted gas money as my old Toyota Landcruiser was getn 10 miles to gal. I picked up a Ranch job and after 3 years the other help I had split. So now for the last 2 years, my part time gas money job turned into a full time 2nd job. Its been 80 to 90 hrs a week for over 2 years now. Its just too much I tell ya. A vacation for me is only working one job for a week while Im off at the other. My Ranch job is fun as hell though.

Hayden.