When we pick up the pace, do we ever stop to wonder, what is it that we are seeking? What is it that we are looking for? What is it that drives us? That makes us want to drive faster than usual?
We are born and raised in a fear and anxiety based society where speed that is the production per unit time equals productivity and efficiency. Sure, the quality of our productions do matter, but delayed better quality productions are a no match for faster less quality productions. Whether you like it or not, that is the dark side of our fast food culture.
Speed matters more now. The pizza must arrive quickly, even if it isn't as well-cooked as the second pizza which could have arrived with a maximum top up of 15 minutes.
We have so much pressure in our society to achieve this in our 20s, to achieve that in our 30s, to already have accomplished certain things by 40.
Why?
Why do we value pace over the quality of our lives?
Let's consider a hypothetical example of a person A.
If person A becomes a millionaire at 25, you'll read about them in Forbes magazine and they will be appreciated more for achieving all of that at a young age. The glamour and the fame will surely be a dream come true for them, but what if they have a bad mental health? What if they are depressed? What if they are lonely in their personal lives and secretly wishing to give away all their material success so they can find the time and opportunity to get married, have kids and continue their life cycle in a 'normal' way?
If the same person decides to not launch their product/service at 25, and decide to do at 52 because they want to spend their life doing more research on it while normally continuing with their life cycle, they just 'might' end up developing a finer quality of product/service that may serve the society for a longer period of time than the product/service they created at 25, and they *might* just have a better mental health, but since they aren't young anymore, they wouldn't receive the same glamour and attention from the media than they would have at 25 (even if the product/service is better and a longer lasting one). And most importantly, before they even accomplish anything, they will be bullied by our society for their whole lives for lacking behind in terms of their pace of accomplishments with respect to their age.
So, why have we created a society that values pace over mental health? Pace over happiness, peace and a good standard of living?
Why? Why? Why?
Think about it.
--Upasana Goyal Diaries
