SOMETHING TO PONDER: George Carlin
George Carlin's wife died early in 2008 and George followed her, dying in July 2008. It is ironic George Carlin - comedian of the 70's and 80's - could write something so very eloquent and so very appropriate. An observation by George Carlin:
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.
We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.
Remember to spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.
Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.
Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.
Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.
Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
And always remember, life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by those moments that take our breath away.
George Carlin
George Carlin's wife died early in 2008 and George followed her, dying in July 2008. It is ironic George Carlin - comedian of the 70's and 80's - could write something so very eloquent and so very appropriate. An observation by George Carlin:
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.
We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.
Remember to spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.
Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.
Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.
Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.
Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
And always remember, life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by those moments that take our breath away.
George Carlin
Simply...Wow!
Sometimes you see some real junk on Facebook and sometimes downright stupid things. Every once in a while you see something someone posted and makes you wonder if they even have a brain? Then every so often someone will post something that simply makes you stop for a minute and think of the grand scale of things and what's truly important. This observation by the late George Carlin did just that for me today.
I guess old folks way back when, summed it up pretty much with eight words: Take time to stop and smell the roses.
Life was definitely simpler when I was young and even more so when my own parents were. When we were little all our bedrooms were on the first floor of our house and each had three windows in our rooms. In the summer we slept with them wide open and the front door rarely locked. We would wake our Diddy up and tell him someone or something was outside. He would get up in his boxer shorts and grab his flashlight, not a shot gun and go out to investigate. Lucky for us he never had to beat someone or something to death with his flashlight. He simply knew it was our crazy dreams, imaginations or nightmares or more often than not some horror movie we had watched at the East Point Theater earlier that day. They would run a triple horror movie special on Saturdays, just the words 'House of Wax' still makes me shudder.
We had one phone, in the kitchen. We had one TV, in the living room with four channels. The closest thing we had to a computer was the Atari we won off Channel Seventeen during a 'Dagwood and Blondie' marathon. We played 'Pong' with wide eyed amazement. Channel Seventeen went on to become WTCG which turned into WTBS and then Ted Turner launched CNN Headline News. I'll have to hand it to Ted, he was a mover and shaker in the TV industry. I remember when he had WTBS. He would have Bill Tush doing late night weather forecasts. Bill would come on and say "Darkness continuing til dawn" and leave it at that.
We're a texting nation. We are too busy to stop and smell the roses. We are too busy to look someone in the face or wrap our arms around a friend. We worry too much about the little things and battle too much about the big things to get anywhere or get anything done.
In politics, it's all "Us against Them." Where did the "We" go? Unfortunately it turned into Wii.
I can't see us going back but have a hard time seeing us move ahead with all the accusations, infighting , finger pointing and blame game.
Does it really matter at this point how we got here? You can't change the past, you can only change the future.
I feel like it matters more to come together, unite and find a resolution.
Hands down we live in the greatest nation on the earth, let's live up to the title , come together and make some REAL change. Just imagine what we could accomplish if we all worked together.
People do something good for you, take time to take out a pen and send them actual words of thanks written on paper. When's the last time you got something in your mail box besides a bill or junk mail?
We are all different. We all have different views, values and beliefs but are ALL human; Can we not agree on that and support each other regardless? Different strokes for different folks. To Each his own. Live and let live.
"Live for yourself and you will live in vain; Live for others, and you will live again."
Bob Marley was a very wise man.
Our country is struggling, the world is in turmoil. My life's a wreck but feel lucky compared to what's going on outside the parameters of my tiny existence on this earth.
Once again, take time to stop and smell the roses. Some people may like one rose and some another. Does it really matter which rose you like or does it matter more that you took the time to stop and breathe in the beauty?
You tell me.
Til next time...COTTON
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