Comfortably numb, that is how I would describe most of the people around me. Not to offend or hurt feelings, that is actually how I feel about most people's reality. In some ways, I envy them, I wish I could be like that too. They do seem happy to not really know what is happening around them.
To know by heart every name and statistics about your favorite sports team is impressive. To watch endless streams of TV shows or short videos on popular apps is quite the feat.
To play video games or read books as soon as you have free time is definitely tempting. It keeps our brain busy, happy and excited.
But what if, in the long run, it makes us less human? What if it makes us disconnect from people around us, and fog our critical thinking of events happening in real life?
Granted, the invention of the 24 hour news channels, has brought a lot of sensationalism and negative news around. Lots of people's main reason not to research current events is the fact that these negative news makes them feel depressed or worried. So they cut it off. I don't blame them.
But as good citizens, we have to know what is going on and we have to scrutinize our elected politician's actions. These actions often are never discussed or debated, but they should. These actions often have a direct impact on our lives, they need to be well managed, implemented.
Another hurtful fact, is that we are over medicated. As an example, in Canada, in 2023, one in 5 women and one in 9 men consumed antidepressants. 2.5 billion units were dispensed that year alone. In the United States, in 2023, 11.4% of adults used them. How many of these people really need this medication? How many are prescribed too easily? We have to start asking ourselves these tough questions, we have to reverse the trend of over medicating. These drugs most likely have side effects, and definitely numb the mind.
Find a purpose
You need a purpose, you need something that can drive you, that sparks your imagination, that makes you move. Set yourself a goal, set yourself a plan for the future. Find a hobby, study it and practice as much as you can to excel in it. Find a job that you love doing, start a business that covers a need that isn't fulfilled in your community.
It can be as simple as buying a small piece of land and cutting wood on it, cleaning it, preparing it for bigger things. As simple as spending time outdoors and challenging yourself into walking further than you've done last time. Paddling harder. Skiing longer. Running faster. It could be to start a family and raise your children to be better humans.
Once freed from the entertainment slob, your mind will start to ask questions and not accept everything that's happening as an inescapable fact, but as a choice, a choice that we express as a society. Once freed from the strong medication, your mind will start to experience reality again. This will bring good and bad thoughts, but you will be free, alive.
A human mind needs to move, it needs to think. It needs purpose. We belong in the outdoors, the forests/beaches/prairies will heal your problems. They will make things better. Ground yourself into the real world, at least once in a while.
Make it so things are not so comfortable or numb.