How does one keep up with an ever-growing society pacing faster everyday? In reality the only way to stop this fast pace is to not keep up with it. There are indeed strength in numbers, and if a large enough crowd simply "stopped", or stayed at an old fashioned level for example then it would eventually be noticed of the world that the demand just isn't there anymore.

     Allow me to explain very simply what this means and how it pertains to how our children will become. First of all, how many of us parents had mp3 players and ipods as kids? How many video game systems were there? Atari was the biggest deal ever to come into the household in 1982. Cassettes were smaller and more convenient than lp records or 8 tracks. A new model or make of a car was a big deal, Movies were more enjoyable, music was real, the sky even shined brighter seemingly with less heat, and a glass of coca cola was a real treat. Renting a vcr movie player or beta max was a real treat, just about everything was right where it needed to be, with plenty of technology and advancements for a peaceful and valued world with abundance.

   Today on the other hand- how many mp3 players,ipods, game systems, music options, computers, cars, sodas and garbage food, dvd-hd-hdtv-hddvd,blu ray, and so forth can we count? A new car is advertised everyday that looks like all the rest, we have every possible game system and type of game imaginable to offer our kids, everykind of computer with every kind of option. Kids today talk on both lines while using 3 chat rooms at once on the pc, rendering the more real life as a thing of the past.

   Sit back-remember, and look at the big picture. Now feel what you remember. Many feel sad, as if the gold and the light has disappeared in our lives from what was once there. How many of us can say today that we actually wish things would stop, or reset? And how many of us remember feeling pretty priviledged to play pac-man or defender?

   How many of us marvelled at the wonderous 80's ? Playing innocent play outside in the sun afternoon with a friend ,running with the night,playing in the shadows or just being content in the presence of our parents watching a movie together?

   Our children have been entrapped into a terrible cycle of high expectations from what this worl has to offer, and it's getting darker every day. Attitudes are changed, privileges are almost unlimited, everything is new and cool and available, friends are on the cellphones and chat rooms. And worst of all-anything goes.

   My friends, I discovered this problem in my own household through my young one. And fortunately my child is back to gold, and a treat is a big deal. Having everything available all in the name of convenience causes people to see the abundance as not such a big deal, and real face to face communication and innocent ways are no longer a big deal because of all these convenient things. Therefore, kids are more depressed, there are more so called disorders and dis-functional relationships. They are so addicted to today's conveniences that without them they think their whole world is crashing.

  It is never too late to change all of this by sitting down and explaining this hard cold truth about society, and changing internal values. Explaining why will help, along with telling stories of our youth and how it was very different. And maybe this world will notice that fewer and fewer people are demanding convenience, and start to think about this as well. I really believe this is the answer and root of most issues with behavior and discipline these days. Children will want what they can get, but will get what is given. And they will expect less and learn appreciation more. I can't speak for everyone, however, if you know what this is about and agree, lets work together to turn back time and realize how far off the deep end things have become in life. The little things do matter very much, and they affect, and it's powerful.