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survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
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Topic Author's Original Post - Sep 1, 2015 - 09:23am PT
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With all the severe division in this country these days, and everyone seemingly looking for a reason to hate, or anger, this really struck home with me.
I think it was written in 2007.
Someone will know who wrote it, but I prefer to leave it anon at the moment.
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 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, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, 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 a new neighbor. We 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've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. 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 we communicate less and less.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.
Remember to spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.
Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.
Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.
Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.
Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
And always remember, life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by those moments that take our breath away.
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Wayno
Big Wall climber
Seattle, WA
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Yeah I'm thinking. Thinking of the "slow food" movement. Kinda sad that there even is such a movement, like we forgot or something.
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Caveman
climber
Cumberland Plateau
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I'm thinking the die was cast a long time ago. We don't know our past. We don't pay attention. We live in NOLA and wonder why the water is swirling about our ears. Doomed to repeat.
edit to add: I Hope I'm wrong!
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Survival, I love you, and Burchey, but not the fly buzzing around me.
I know, I gotta work on that.
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Ghost
climber
A long way from where I started
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Survival, I love you, and Burchey, but not the fly buzzing around me.
Are you saying those two clowns are more worthy of love than a beautiful, iridescent housefly?
Wow. You really do need to get your priorities straight.
(And yes, thanks for the OP Bruce)
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survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 1, 2015 - 11:51am PT
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You're very welcome.
Not enough reasons to get along and find common ground these days.
Or, maybe, more reasons than ever, and we're just not capable of doing it?
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skcreidc
Social climber
SD, CA
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Most are capable Survival. It's just that most are not willing.
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JEleazarian
Trad climber
Fresno CA
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Most are capable Survival. It's just that most are not willing.
I think that hits the nail on the head. Being closed-minded requires much less effort. Sad to say, having spent 9 years as a student in higher education, and 30 years as an instructor there, edcuation and educators are just as prone to intellectual laziness as the rest of us. In particular, I see a trend toward less diversity of opinion - and a condemnation of the skepticism that forms the basis of scholarship - with each passing year.
We need to make the effort to reach out, both intellectually and interpersonally, to those whose views differ from our own. Fortunately, many of the topics on ST (and not just the OT's. We have plenty of tribalism in climbing, too) help in that regard, and I am grateful to CMac and ST for this forum.
John
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survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 1, 2015 - 12:20pm PT
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We need to make the effort to reach out, both intellectually and interpersonally, to those whose views differ from our own.
We need to make the effort to reach out, both intellectually and interpersonally, to those whose views differ from our own.
We need to make the effort to reach out, both intellectually and interpersonally, to those whose views differ from our own.
We need to make the effort to reach out, both intellectually and interpersonally, to those whose views differ from our own.
We need to make the effort to reach out, both intellectually and interpersonally, to those whose views differ from our own.
We need to make the effort to reach out, both intellectually and interpersonally, to those whose views differ from our own.
We need to make the effort to reach out, both intellectually and interpersonally, to those whose views differ from our own.
We need to make the effort to reach out, both intellectually and interpersonally, to those whose views differ from our own.
We need to make the effort to reach out, both intellectually and interpersonally, to those whose views differ from our own.
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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No wonder they named a fault and town t
In Nevada after him. He was a wise man...
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SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
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Broooose!!!!
Yer makin' me think??????
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SC seagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, Moab or In What Time Zone Am I?
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<3 <3. <3
Susan
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Mark Force
Trad climber
Ashland, Oregon
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Well done, Survival!
Please give attribution to the author at some point as he has so much great stuff to ponder with one of the more recent being about gratitude.
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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hey there say, survival... nice to see all this stuff...
say, when you 'practice relationships' and reaching out to understand and just be part of those around you... well, it becomes a habit...
one, good for life...
sad things, are:
kids that are left to themselves and bad influences, also form habits--habits that come from the examples that they HAVE BEEN PRACTICING
in there early 'formative' years...
this too, is something to think about, in our homes, when
we are parents... or aunts, uncles, grammas, grampss, etc...
even brothers and sisters, mixes...
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survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 1, 2015 - 05:57pm PT
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I will Mark. Just wanted it to ride for a bit to see if that might draw someone out.
It was the great American philosopher George Carlin.
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Mark Force
Trad climber
Ashland, Oregon
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Oops, thought it was David Brooks! I'm thinking he may have quoted Carlin in an article?
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Banks
Trad climber
Santa Monica, CA
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Actually, that quote is falsely attributed to Carlin. He called it a "sappy load of sh*t". Credit belongs to Dr. Bob Moorehead, written in 1995.
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survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 1, 2015 - 10:08pm PT
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This thread needs a bump, and not because it's mine, but because of the contents of the OP document.
And it doesn't really matter who wrote it. I would still dig it.
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