Virtual realities of life...

A casual conversation with a car driver and a friend in his early 50’s.

 

“Saahbji, a few years back when some baby is born or a marriage occurs or something like that happens in my extended family and friends, we will go with a small present (We do not have much) but spend time with them. Today, I do a video call and pass some money by G pay and tell them, but a present for the child or whoever it is”.

 

“I have only one sister and she stay in the same city. Earlier I would go and meet them at least two or three times a month, take some food or chocolates for her children. We still have a good relationship, but in the last one year we haven’t met face to face. We have video calls and I pass some money to her to buy chocolate for their children”.

 

“There was time when I used to look forward for the board meetings of our organization. All the members will drive and come, and while the meeting is going on, we drivers have a great time together, and we became close friends, even our families know each other. But now no one comes, I am not sure why?”

 

I asked how it feels – “Saahbji – some thing is not right; this is not what I wanted from life”.

With VR (Virtual reality) replacing physical reality, will we become more connected or will we be left with an increasing feeling of "something is not right?"

Another conversation with a Gen Z friend. 

 

“Uncle, a classmate of mine, who was no good (not putting down) had more than 100,000 followers on Instagram. I have less than 10,000, despite my presence being for personal and official purposes. I wonder what happened to my life”? 

 

Last night’s conversation (on WhatsApp) with a few cross generational friends, after a meal and singing some old songs together. “It was so wonderful to lift our hearts and voices together…” “It was good to be together and spend some time together after a tiring busy day”. 

 

From a recent article 

 

“There are lots more young people being prescribed antidepressants,” he said, “as well as increases in self-harm, particularly for young adolescent women, and an increase in disability claims from young people.”

 

What could explain this? Is the rise simply the result of greater recognition of the signs of mental ill health, now that there is less stigma in admitting to having a problem?

Could there be something to the accusation that young people are less resilient, perhaps because of changes in parenting styles or schooling, or some other external factors? Or has the world just changed so rapidly that it has become more confusing and uncertain, more brutish, perhaps even a nastier place, and the new generations are bearing the brunt?

 

There is no shortage of potential culprits: the cost of living crisis, the Covid lockdowns, the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, the long-term effects of austerity, the climate crisis, pressure in schools, prejudice against minorities, the rise of social media and smartphones, the evaporating high street and the growing complexity of modern life.”

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/mar/03/whats-up-with-generation-z?CMP=share_btn_url

 

Is this why the following evidence is emerging?

 

But in our nation, it seems to more with Gen X and my generation too! 

 

That may be why – this book is one of the best sellers…

All these ramblings - Is it an aging brain desiring for past years? 

But this is what the good book says “Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding meeting together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.” 

 

Specially this season, with some major days ahead of us for  our nation…