The pursuit of ?

I have been meaning to write something on this subject for a while and have been finally inspired to actually do so by the wonderful articles on http://littlejennywren.blogspot.com/ and http://isabellainthe21stcentury.blogspot.com/ concerning the position of the family in modern life.

Taking my eldest daughter back to school yesterday made me feel so sad with resignation as I was once again reminded of the relentless pace of modern life. I truly believe that the constant rushing about, the endless commitments to this or that, the extra curricular activities, long working hours have all had a terribly erosive effect upon both family life, community life and the quality of life in general. Life, it seems has become a pressure cooker ready to boil over. So many people seem to be just hanging on to the frayed edges of their responsibilities, in a state of existence instead of living. Children and adults alike have no time at the perimeters of each day to just be themselves, just be with each other, JUST BE in general.

For many people, in order to pay for the basics either both parents have to work or one has to work incredibly long hours. Ten hour days are considered by many to be standard these days and that doesn't include the commute. I just feel so sad that we as a society and in more general terms, the world at large, is in an endless, relentless, unbridled pursuit of an "idealised" "perfect" life. It is in the blind pursuit that the important things, the truly wonderful things and the precious moments of life are lost, discounted and unrealised, discarded, neglected and left for a tomorrow that never comes.

Family life, relationships, simple interactions between people. Respect, kindness, compassion, trust, empathy and love are what create cohesive societies, communities and families. When family life is not prioritised as the root of a healthy society the society as a whole begins to breakdown and decay.

Everything seems back to front and upside down. We work so that we may enjoy our families however the structure of work in these modern times combined with our insatiable consumerism have collectively formed a highly restrictive design for our lives.

The only way to cope with the pressure is to find ways to spend the money we have worked so hard to earn on things that can numb and distract us from our exhaustive reality.

My daughter typed up and printed out a motto for our family during the holidays and I think it sums it all up.

"Always speak with a smile. Address other's with kindness from the heart.

Nothing is worth sacrificing patience, love and understanding for.

If you can't keep your cool doing what your doing stop doing it :0)

That's that!"

I love this simple, straightforward perspective. Put into the no nonsense wording that only a child could find to explain something so simple and true:0) And isn't it true? These should be the priorities of life. No matter what we achieve, what is it worth if it was done at the expense of, family, friendship, kindness, love.

The smallest acts of kindness and love are worth more than grand gestures that sacrifice these things in order to be realised.

If you haven't visited Jewel's blog at Eyes of Wonder ( check the sidebar for a link:0) I highly recommend it. The beautiful journalling of her families simple but incredibly loving and joyful life both illustrates and highlights that which is most precious of all. Simplicity, family, love, faith, joy and wonderment of the journey not just the destination :0)

Every moment is a gift, an allotment of time to which we are the tennants.