Saturday, August 17, 2013

 

INDIFFERENCE reprinting

Norma’s Ark ~ Sunday, July 29, 2007

Reprinting by permission of author on 8/17/2013
www.normasark.blogspot.com/
 

INDIFFERENCE



By Dr. R
ubyNorma Yanez, Ch.t

Once upon a time we all lived in tribal environments. Our lives literally depended upon each other so we paid attention to each others’ needs. We all shared food, shelter, and commodities that helped the mutual well-being of the tribe. Medical needs were attended to by the local shaman. As time went by, life evolved, or as some would say, DEVOLVED into bigger and bigger cities….. and eventually families began to move apart. The tribal mentality diminished.

Nowadays, we fend for ourselves more and more. The cost is large. Spiritually, psychologically, and even economically speaking, we are more on our own with less and less tribal and familial-like support. Of course there are still families that help each other and stay together. Yet, the tendency to move away is part of our present day societies. Or at least it is in this country. We move because of job and school requirements, health reasons, and an assortment of other concerns. Sometimes we are able to keep our family units together. When we are separated by long distances, it becomes harder to meet up or to assist one another in times of emergency. Even the good times aren’t really shared if we do not see each other in person to do so….

What are the costs? Frequently we do not even realize the costs. Those of us who are sensitive do. It is “
indifference.” Out of sight and out of mind is often the case. At times there is guilt. Other times a sense of anomie = not feeling cared for….. prevails. But always there is a price for the separations. Little by little we forget what it was like to be together until the relationships begin to wane. Some use the phone system or e-mail to keep in touch. Others spend large sums to fly to be together on certain mutually enjoyed holidays.
But in general, the distance takes its eventual toll.

Are we better off for the traveling? You tell me? 
Are we better off for having left our family?

                                     



Comments:
Generally speaking I would say that we are the poorer for not having familial support when we live far away. Jacob Rashid in England
 
Probably not. We often feel isolated and out of touch. I personally have not had ANY communication from my father's side of the family since before he died. My cousins on my mother's side, other than one, I also had not heard from probably since I left home. The last one I stopped hearing from since HER mother, my favorite aunt, died and that's now been maybe 11 years.

Once parted, family members lead such different lives. They enter new families or new friendships and old ways and old ties are either discarded or forgotten.

While mediums such as Facebook and Twitter have brought some family members back into communication, they have drawn others even farther from "real life."
Sharon in AZ


 
We have friends that are close as family. Sometimes a better match for those of us who do not fit well into the family they were born into. They become our safety net.
Family can be very difficult.
It takes work, hard work to stay close to far away family.
One thing we have done is yearly visits or vacation trips. Nanci
 
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