A Jumble of Recent Thoughts

I had an experience recently where I volunteer that I can't get out of my head. I volunteer within Hospice helping people who typically have 0 to 3 months left to live. Some find it morbid but I honestly find so much joy in spending time with people who are nearing the end of their life's journey. I was touched in particular by family members who stay around the clock, even sleeping on the floor just to be with their loved one's. It really made me think about all the people in my life that I would do just that, I would sacrifice my own comforts to comfort another. I came home and called my wife and I told her "I would sleep on the floor for you." I thought about my parents and my brother and without hesitation, I'd do the same... I'd sleep on the floor for them.

When you think about it though, how many people do you have in your life that you would "sleep on the floor for". I mean honestly? I am easily frustrated with the way my generation builds relationships. I think social media is to blame, though I have my own love/hate relationship with social media I think we are really missing something. I think it's a hindrance for the amount of face to face interactions we should or could have. I mean currently you can have a "friendship" without ever meeting face to face. I joke all the time that I may be in my late 20's but I feel as though I'm in my 50's.... perhaps it's because I compare present and past generations and I choose to identify more with the past.

All that being said, I wish we all valued human life more. In a variety of social scenes I think we truly miss the point and I think we miss out on how beautifully unique people really are. I think we often times miss out on sitting with that 100 year old woman who has decades and decades of stories to tell. Is it that we truly don't have the time or that we just don't want to take the time any more? Don't get me wrong I'm not perfect and I fill my time with useless activities more than I feel I should... I do want to keep myself in check and listen more.... I mean really listen.