Do you remember the quote, "Life in the fast lane?" It originally meant something entirely different than it does now. Years ago, people were urged to stop living life in the fast lane and settle down. In todays world, that phrase seems to be a coveted prize. We all have jobs, children, and homes to take care of, and feel we have to go at break neck speed, just to get everything accomplished.

We have all of the modern conveniences imaginable, to help us speed up. Cell phones, microwaves, computers, electric this and electric that. Our communication methods have turned to email, text, chat and instant messaging. Why is it that people will text a message that takes just as long as dialing the number? The answer is simple: Texting does not require that you take the time out of your busy day to actually speak to the person.

This fast paced, on the go world is actually making recluses and very socially lonely people out of a lot of us. With all of the online ordering, home deliveries and computer contacts, there are some people that go days and days without leaving their home or seeing a living soul, unless they have to go to work.

Even then, they go fast, trying to complete an ever increasing work load. Lunch time has even become "working lunches" for a lot of people. The stressful, hectic life style takes its toll on our health and our families, as less and less time is spent relaxing, or spending quality family time.

Grandparents sit at home, getting emailed pictures! Have you, as a grandparent or parent, ever been told, "Sorry, we'd like to visit, but we are just too busy?" Or, "Sorry, I meant to call, but just didn't have the time." They are from a generation where family came first, and quality time was a priority. Their lifestyle was slower paced and probably much healthier.

The new fast paced generation will tell you that it must have been awful to live back when there weren't any cell phones, microwaves, computers, video games and fast food joints. Dinner was prepared at home and eaten at a table, with everyone present. The only noise in the room was from a real conversation, not a blaring television.

The fast paced techno world is even affecting our children. Homework research is done on a computer search engine. They use calculators in school to do their math. After school activities consist of spending hours in front of the television playing the latest video game. What has happened to using their minds for something more than how to get to the next level?

Give a little boy a toy truck, and he immediately wants to know what it does. "Where's the on switch to make it go?" Give a little girl a doll and she expects it to really cry, crawl or wet its pants. Where is the imagination in that? We are raising these children to rely on the latest technologies to have fun, or to do their work, just like we do.

Modern conveniences, we all believe, have a lot of advantages. They speed up our work day, hurry along our meals, and make things faster in general, so we can hurry along to the next thing. While we all find this to be a great thing, we may be giving up the greatest thing of all; good old fashioned family values.

Most people will admit that they are overworked, stressed out and just plain tired. Many suffer from sleep deprivation and poor diets. Increased blood pressure and cholesterol levels seem to be part of life, when it should be a giant red flag. Maybe our bodies are just smarter than we are, and it's time we really listened to them.

Learn more about this author, Donna Thacker.
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