THUNDER BAY – There are simple things that we do that are, in many ways deeply therapeutic in our lives. From the simple ones, hugging a young child, holding the person you care about, to the basic ones, making a meal, washing dishes, cleaning up our homes.
Those basics are, in many ways in today’s society being left to a lessor degree behind us.
The simple act of washing dishes, often where one washed and the other dried has been replaced by the convenience of the dishwasher. Gone are the discussions that happened that were a part of family life.
The task of making bread, a staple for many people has been replaced with purchasing bread from the store. For many in Thunder Bay, bannock is a staple.
Fairly easy to make, bread, or bannock is another way to bring people together.
It is a way to share.
The power of youth is in keeping the best of the past, the real humanity and allowing the best of the modern world to be united together.
In many parts of our lives, we are choosing to replace the old ways with new ones. In lots of cases those choices are really positive – depending on what we do with the time and choices made available to us.
The simple power in humanity is not in what many of us think it is.
The power of technology is not in the technology, but rather in what we do with the opportunities it offers.
The power of a jet engine is not in the CF-18 Fighter dropping bombs against ISIS. The real power of a jet engine is having grandparents be able to visit their children who live far away.
The real power in a computer is in its communications opportunities. Not in staring endlessly at a screen, but in spending time communicating with people.
For all its apparent power, Facebook is, at its best, is a way to bring people together.
The power is not in endless memes and selfies.
Taking time everyday for what is really important, that is the real power of living.
Embrace it, today.
