Reiter Coaching Supporting Success in Academe
Visit My New Site SuccessInAcademe About coaching Who I coach What Clients are Saying Is coaching for me? About Steve Reiter Frequently Asked Questions Resources Coaching Letter Archives Books, tapes, etc. Other resources Inspirational Quotes and Stories Buy Local, Buy Small Communicate Send Suggestions and Comments Request a Consultation		The Paradox of Our Time not written by George Carlin Note: This piece has travelled around the internet and has been inaccurately attributed to George Carlin (On his website, he makes a strong case for why he'd never write it. Click here to take you to that page). Nevertheless, I include this piece here, not because it's uplifting (it is clearly not), but because it illuminates the many areas of choice in our lives. So do be sure to choose! - SR The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings, but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy it 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, but more problems; more medicine, but less wellness. We drink too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get angry too quickly, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too seldom, 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 the new neighbor. We've 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 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 have less communication. These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion; tall men, and short character; steep profits, and shallow relationships. These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare; more leisure, but less fun; more kinds of food, but less nutrition. These are days of two incomes, but more divorce; of 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. Back to Stories and Essays Index