With all the chaos and confusion going on in the world with the economy, gas prices, the upcoming election, etc. , we tend to lose sight of the important things in life. I received this message written by the late George Carlin several years ago and I feel it is time to revisit these sentiments.
A Message from George Carlin:
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways , but narrower view points. 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, throw away 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 y ou can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...
Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going tobe 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 the moments that take our breath away.
If you don't send this to at least 8 people....Who cares?
George Carlin
5 comments:
I've always loved George Carlin. Yes, he could be crude, rude and whatever, but people listened. I've read this piece before and I think it's wonderful.
One of the greats, good post.
Carlin was indeed a wonderful writer, who was capable of writing with sensitivity and a sort of left-handed compassion. He was also quite sagacious, which is the main reason why many people liked him.
One of the things Carlin noted, with the increasing popularity of the World Wide Web, was that a lot of his writing began to circulate around cyberspace (from such books as Braindroppings etc.). What also happened, however, was that a lot of writings became falsely attributed to him, so much so that he dedicated a page on his official website to point out the things that he didn't write.
This particular piece, titled "The Paradox of Our Times" is Carlinesque in it's construction, and its witty use of language. But it's reference to "praying too seldom" struck me as odd, since Carlin was about as devoutly atheist as one could get. So I checked out Carlin's site and found that he in fact did not write this. Unlike most of the items falsely attributed to him, however, he said that he agreed with much of what this one says.
Hmm, unfortunately the link I provided doesn't take you directly there, but rather to the home page (no way to link directly to the part in question). You can find it by scrolling to the bottom, and clicking on the link that reads "The following items (including the 'Bad American'..."
George Carlin always spoke the truth! Alway! You had to laugh to keep from crying!
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