(a modern day poem by Octavian Paler)
The paradox of our days in history
is that we have bigger buildings yet smaller souls,
larger streets but narrower minds.
We buy more but we have less;
we spend more but we enjoy less.
We have bigger homes but smaller families,
more accessories yet less time;
more functions and lesser minds,
more knowledge and less judgement;
more experts and even more problems,
more medicine and less health.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend carelessly.
We don't laugh fast enough, and we drive way too fast.
We get too angry,
we go to sleep too late and we wake up too tired.
We don't read enough, watch too much tv
and seldom pray.
We multiplied our assets yet diminished our values.
We talk too much, we love too seldom and we hate too often.
We learned to make a living but not to make a life,
we added years to our lives and not life to our years.
We went to the moon and back, but we have problems crossing the street
to greet a neighbor.
We conquered the outer space, but nor the inner one.
We built bigger, not necessarily better.
We cleaned the air but polluted the soil.
We tamed the atom but not our prejudice.
We write more but we read less.
We plan more and achieve less.
We learned to hurry up but not to slow down.
We built more computers
which hold more information
and multiply more than ever
but we communicate less than ever before.
These are the times of fast-food and slow digestion;
of bigger men and petty characters;
of quick profits and shallow relationships.
These are the times of two incomes and more divorces,
of prettier houses and uglier marriages.
These are the times of quick travel,
disposable diapers, questionable conduct, one night stands, overweight bodies
and pills that can induce anything from happiness to tranquility, to death.
These are the times of too many windows and nothing on display.
Times when technology can bring you this letter and times when you decide
either to share this point of view
or delete it.
Remember to spend more time with the people you love
because they won't be there forever.
Remember to say a good word to the child who worships you
because that child will soon grow up and leave your side.
Remember to hug lovingly the one next to you
because it's the only treasure that comes from the heart
and costs nothing.
Remember to say "I love you" to your partner and the people you love
but most of all remember to say it from the heart.
A kiss and a hug will ease the pain
when sincere.
Remember to hold hands with your dear ones
and cherish that moment
because one day
they won't be there.
Make time for loving, make time for talking
make time to share your thoughts.
Romanian version here