The word "happiness" sounds so simple, but as most people know, finding true contentment can be quite a mountain to climb. Why is happiness so illusive? Why is it such a difficult objective to attain?
I considered this as I watched the news last night about a Canadian who travelled to Africa on a mission trip. Images were flashed on the screen of the lived-in shacks, barely-clothed children, and swarming flies. Clean, running water is nothing more than a fantasy, food is a luxury, and the possibility of death by starvation and disease is a daily reality for children and adults alike. "But", the missionary went on to conclude, "somehow they seem happier here than back home".
I couldn't believe what I just heard. They were happier? There's no clean water, disease is rampant, poverty is epidemic, and medical resources virtually inaccessible. They endure hardships that appear only in our nightmares. And they seemed happier than we are? How could that be? Is it possible that our rich nation may be able to learn something from this third world country?
The two countries couldn't be more dissimilar, but apart from the differences in quality of life, there seems to be an underlying factor for happiness that eludes us. We have food available to us, even if we can't afford to buy it. We have money available for us through governmental resources. We have the advantage of accessible technology that is supposed to make our lives easier, but I don't think it has made it better.
A couple of months ago, I was at a restaurant and glanced over at a table of four young girls. Three of them were talking on their cell phones, and the fourth shrugged her shoulders and pulled out hers too. The cell phones destroyed the group atmosphere and cut off valuable social connections.
I mentioned to my oldest son that I was concerned about the amount of time he spends playing video games. I went on to explain that growing up, I was allowed one hour of television a day, and there were only three channels to choose from (and to change channels, I had to actually get up and turn the dial until it clunked into place). He asked me what I did with all my time and I struggled to remember. "I guess I just played with my friends a lot" was my conclusion. Today's video games creates its own social networks, but without the human link.
Emails are the communication tool of choice for many now. It has become easier to send an email, even intra-office, rather than writing notes or speaking directly to others. But the socialization of people and basic human contact is reduced yet again.
My latest vehicle purchase came with a built in screen for my kids to watch movies. Now don't get me wrong, I have been thankful of that on more than one occasion. But the fact remains, in past generations, families had no option but to converse together during long trips in the car. I remember playing Eye Spy, singing Row Your Boat, and spotting license plates from faraway places. These are all things that my kids will miss on account of the latest Disney film.
MP3 players enable us to listen to our favourite music anywhere, anytime. I chuckled, watching a young man dancing on a street corner while waiting for the light to turn. He was obviously have a great time and enjoying the music blaring in his ears, but he was in a world of his own. Music is a wonderful, creative addition to our lives, but the invention of hand-held devices has created yet again, an anti-social environment.
As a young girl, I regularly wrote letters to my grandmothers living in Red Deer and Calgary, and I still remember the joy of receiving handwritten correspondence in return. Those letters deepened my relationship and created a personal connection with each of them. Sadly, handwritten letters are now a thing of the past.
Despite all of the challenges that our new technological society brings us, I wouldn't trade living my life for a life of poverty in Africa for anything. But it's a good reminder that along with the advancement of technology, my responsibility as a woman, parent, friend, and member of society is to continue to foster individual relationships with those who surround me.
I resolved to phone my girlfriends more often so they can hear my laughing, rather than emailing them with a LOL :). Instead of sending my son a funny email, I'll show it to him so we can laugh together over it. I'll continue to hound my kids (despite their protests) to come to the dinner table so we can talk about the day, and encourage my children to have their friends over more often.
Maybe I'll even go out on a limb and teach my kids a song from the "olden days" while we're driving: "Row, row, row your boat gently down the stream . . ."