My Vision for Everyone - Breathing Space Blog

A vision for us all: we have a house on or near a lake or large body of water. We're in a low traffic area with lots of fields and trails. There are travel clubs and groups around that want to take trips, particularly theme trips such as couples, or parent-children. There is sunshine, water, fresh air, great scenery.

Whenever we leave home, we have an easy exit, light packing, low stress, easy travel, early rising, lots of naps, in a child-friendly environment. Our activities are free or low cost. We explore cities and densely packed areas with ease. Thrice annually we cruise to exotic places, have a great time, intimacy, and breathing space. We accomplish "nothing." We are rested, trim, relaxed and happy. This repeats over and over.

Key Reflection for All Time - Breathing Space Blog

A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams. 
  -- John Barrymore

Book: Amusing Ourselves to Death - Breathing Space Blog

The late Neil Postman was a man ahead of his time. Here is an excerpt from the foreword to his 1985 landmark book Amusing Ourselves to Death

"We were keeping our eye on 1984. When the year came and the prophecy didn't, thoughtful Americans sang softly in praise of themselves. The roots of liberal democracy had held. Wherever else the terror had happened, we, at least, had not been visited by Orwellian nightmares."

"But we had forgotten that alongside Orwell's dark vision, there was another - slightly older, slightly less well known, equally chilling: Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. Contrary to common belief even among the educated, Huxley and Orwell did not prophesy the same thing. Orwell warns that we will be overcome by an externally imposed oppression. But in Huxley's vision, no Big Brother is required to deprive people of their autonomy, maturity and history. As he saw it, people will come to love their oppression, to adore the technologies that undo their capacities to think."

"What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one. Orwell feared those who would deprive us of information. Huxley feared those who would give us so much that we would be reduced to passivity and egoism. Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us. Huxley feared the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance. Orwell feared we would become a captive culture."

"Huxley feared we would become a trivial culture, preoccupied with some equivalent of the feelies, the orgy porgy, and the centrifugal bumblepuppy. As Huxley remarked in Brave New World Revisited, the civil libertarians and rationalists who are ever on the alert to oppose tyranny "failed to take into account man's almost infinite appetite for distractions". In 1984, Huxley added, people are controlled by inflicting pain. In Brave New World, they are controlled by inflicting pleasure. In short, Orwell feared that what we hate will ruin us. Huxley feared that what we love will ruin us."

"This book is about the possibility that Huxley, not Orwell, was right."

True Leisure is Vital - Breathing Space Blog

True leisure is necessary in our lives. It cannot be squeezed into our busy days. It must happen at its own pace. We need to take the time to relax. Without a balance between work and play, we become "human doings" instead of human beings.

Carve Your Own Path - Breathing Space Blog

The most effective way to compete in this world for jobs, lovers, and that which is coveted, is to not compete at all.  Don't compare, analyze, or dwell upon whatever others are doing.  But instead create your own path -- your internal guidance system -- and have faith that your way will work.

Widespread A.D.D. - Breathing Space Blog

We've reached the point where a typical person in our society now has Attention Deficit Disorder, culturally induced. The rising decibel level in public spaces, as documented over the last 25 years, all but confirms that our society has embraced a perpetually higher level of noise. Added to that, the number of messages that each of us is bombarded with on a daily basis has no end.

From billboards, to bus panels, to ads over urinals, at all times, in all places, someone is vying for our attention. E-mail and the Internet have exacerbated the problem, but even those who are not online and not wired are subject to cultural Attention Deficit Disorder. Why? Because the general level of message bombardment in our society is exceedingly high.

Retrieve a person from a primitive society, someone who has never been exposed to television or telephones, or, if you could, retrieve someone from 1918, and today’s information bombardment would have immediate impact: I would be surprised if such visitors to our culture did not have near-instant nervous breakdown.

Why the Pace of Life Quickens - Breathing Space Blog

Why the pace of life quickens: "Did You Know?/Shift Happens" (Version 6, 2012)