I Want It Right Now!

I want it right now, right here!

We live in an era where everyone wants to live in the moment. Past is boring history and future is very vague. "All  one's got is today", is the thinking on everyone's mind. True, that present is a gift, but what's the hurry to unwrap it so urgently? There was a time when people used to wait for the right moment to open their gifts. They would carefully remove the tapes and save the paper for future reuse. Many a times, the gifts were recycled too!

Not anymore. Now, everyone wants to rip open that expensive, well detailed packing in the zest to use that gift. No one has the time to wait. Waiting is like wasting precious time. House of Cards was released as a full season because viewers don't have the patience to wait a week between episodes. We don't even wait for fruits and vegetables to ripen on trees. We want seasonal foods all year round. We mess with nature and use innovative methods to fulfill our desires. Plastic money has made everything accessible. There is no need for self restraint in a world of mortgages, financing and bank credits.

Yes, no one has the patience for anything. No one actually has the patience to hear about Patience"! Patience is one of the core virtues that faith systems, religion and morals try to instill through various practices and is becoming extinct in modern times. In the pursuit of lusty whims and desires, morals are being trampled under hasty feet dancing on the tunes of greed. Media channels are sending blasting messages of self centeredness. Getting old is so scary that a big portion of almost all salaries go to vanities. Scarce resources are being used in producing, promoting and consuming products that claim to enhance and preserve beauty and youth. We all are trying to escape the inevitable by delaying it at all costs. We are avoiding realities of future. To face that we will need to be patient, contained, and  self restrained.

Masses are depressed. Majority is anxious and almost everyone is under pressure. Panic attacks are common and antidepressants are household brand names. Families are dysfunctional and youth are confused. Children are hyper and parents are restless. Elderly are forgotten and young are lost. Adults are in gyms and minors are at caring centers.

Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and temples are everywhere, yet spirituality is missing. There are more interfaith efforts but faith is lacking. People are mindful but reluctant to use those minds. There is more awareness but wisdom is crying. There are more opportunities but potentials are being wasted. All are seeking but peace cannot be found.

The situation may look bleak but I'm not despairing. In fact, this might be the exact fork in the road from where humanity might lead towards the right direction, if it chooses wisely and make the right effort. The situation is not going to improve until and unless we take reins and realize the need of the times. The need of the time is to get a grip. Learn to be patient. Learn contentment. It's okay to fail at times. It's okay if we don't get it right now. It's fine if everyone else is doing it. It's time to learn to be self restrained.

It is time to turn to faith, religion and morals. It's time to think beyond this moment and this world. It's time to reflect, meditate and think. To learn and understand. Not just listen but process and analyze. With the awareness, fast media, globalization, melting pot societies and interfaith opportunities, we have the right tools at hand to build the strong, tolerant, diverse, respecting and peaceful societies that the world desires. I have hope and I have faith in humanity.