Opinion : Darling Conversations

For a generation that starts off its day with ingesting all different forms of media alongside their breakfast burritos and avocado toast (add Everything Bagel seasoning-it's DELICIOUS). I can't help but feel disappointed in the lack of meaningful conversations taking place around our collective dinner tables regarding everything we've seen and heard. So much information available, but no real, in-depth discussions about what that information means, if it matters and if there is anything we need to do about it.
Sure, you can be brought up to speed with sound bites and click-bait worthy headlines, but never without an agenda behind it. There are even talk shows dedicated to informing you of hot-button issues, but not without a really big catch; the production of those is more about the entertainment value than it is about meaningful conversation, and--no offense to the issues at large but the things that break my heart are happening right here at home.
It does make me ask the question--If I am looking to engage in effective conversation about the things that matter, where do I start? And the first place I am looking to is the very community I have residence in. It isn't just us, but collectively we've lost our ability to think critically and the consequences of that are alarming. We're trading in our ability to think for mind-numbing and it appears that the reason has everything to do with our central nervous systems being absolutely fried; we ingest and consume media, but don't apply half of the things we see and hear, as it doesn't seem to have any practical use in our own day to day living. I liken it to eating empty calories. Sure, empty calories will get you full, but they don't have any nutritional value and it may come as a surprise to the readers to hear that the implications of consuming media like empty calories are the same: poor health.
The good news is that you can start reversing the damage right now by really taking inventory about the things that matter to you and your family. I had to ask myself questions like, "What does this mean for myself and the people I love? Does it even matter? And if it does, how will I choose to make it an actionable value in our everyday lives?"
R. Darling
R. Darling currently resides in Vinton. She considers herself to be a student of life-always learning and unlearning and re-learning. Most of her focus in writing is in overall wellness, relationship dynamics and how to approach awkward and tough conversations. The last of which she considers herself an expert.