Mental health matters. We hear this phrase so often and it is more true now then ever before. The stresses society puts on people, especially with the younger generation…it’s more than overwhelming. I honestly can’t imagine what it would be like to grow up in this day and age as a youth or young adult. Social media dictates how to look, act and even feel. People are so immersed in technology that the next generation is losing the art of expression, communication and even empathy. They have instant access to whatever they need or want, but this access comes at a costly price. I looked on social media today and it was disheartening to say the least. A young girl killed on a bus needlessly. Most likely from someone in need of mental help. School shootings. Viral videos of affairs. A woman stealing a homerun baseball from a young boy. Racism is at a high along with political differences. The list goes on. It’s not even safe to have an opinion and agreeing to disagree is a thing of the past. People are angry and are turning to violence more and more.
I have two son’s aged 18 and 20. Young adults eager to take on the world. But I won’t lie. I’m scared for them. The world feels like a scary and cold place. When I was their age, not getting invited to a party was no big deal. Because most of the time I didn’t even know about it. Now kids know everything that is going on. Because of social media, they know what everyone else is doing, all of the time. It doesn’t feel good, I’m sure, to see the glamour and glory of the lives of friends, family, schoolmates, and even strangers posted daily. Then comparing it to your own boring, uneventful day, week or summer.
The world is extreme. It either depicts unimaginable violence and suffering or the glamour and glory. There is no in between for the ordinary. We are losing the skill of gratitude for the small things life has to offer. A walk in nature with your furry friend, a sip of coffee in your favorite cafe, catching up with a dear friend or even just literally stopping to smell the roses. The world is on high octane. I wish we could just step off the gas and slow everything down…
Hero Cape 