The Real Things in Life

Life is not measured by the number of breaths, but by the moments that take our breath away! "The Real Things in Life George Carlin When George Carlin's wife died, Carlin, the famous rough and mouthy comedian of the 1970s and 1980s, wrote this incredibly expressive article - so relevant today, in the post-9/11 era. The paradox of our time is that we have tall buildings but low tolerance, wide highways but narrow views. We spend more, but we have less, we buy more, but we enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more amenities but less time. We have more education, but less intelligence, more knowledge, but worse judgment, we have more experts, but also more problems, more medicine, but less health. We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too irresponsibly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get angry too easily, go to bed too late, wake up too tired, read too little, watch too much TV and pray too infrequently. We have increased our possessions, but we have reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom and hate too often. We know how to experience, but we do not know how to live. We added years to human life, but we did not add life to years. We went to the moon and came back, but it was difficult for us to cross the street and meet the new neighbor. We conquered the cosmic latitudes, but not the mental ones. We do bigger things. but not better things. We purified the air, but we polluted the soul. We subdued the atom, but not our prejudices. We write more, but we learn less. We plan more, but we achieve less. We learned to hurry, but not to wait. We make new computers that store more information and spit out more copies than ever before, but we communicate less and less. This is a time of fast food and indigestion, big men and small souls, easy profits and difficult relationships. The time of higher family incomes and more divorces, more beautiful houses and broken homes. The time of short trips, disposable diapers and one-time morals, one-night stands and overweight and the pills that do everything - excite us, calm us, kill us. A time when there is a lot in the window, but little in the warehouse. A time when technology allows this letter to reach you, but also allows you to share it or just press "delete". Remember, spend more time with those you love because they are not with you forever. Remember, say a kind word to the one who looks down on you with admiration, because this little creature will soon grow up and will no longer be with you. Remember and warmly embrace the person next to you, because this is the only treasure you can give from your heart and it does not cost a penny. Remember and say "I love you" to your loved ones, but most of all really think so. A kiss and a hug can fix any evil when they come from the heart. Remember and hold hands and appreciate the moments when you are together because one one day this man will not be with you. Take time to love each other, take time to talk, and take time to share everything you have to say. Because life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.