Live Your Best Life

In the past family unity used to be taken for granted when families and extended families used to live together. This is especially true in the Asian culture with a strong tradition that puts the interests of society over individual. Well, these norms are changing fast. Now the emphasis is on individual development with capitalism as the model of development. Some countries use it as the broader political system for common good while others use it in the narrower sense of operating a free market.

The implications for the individual is far reaching. It is everyone's dream and goal to do well in life and climb up the economic ladder. In so doing the emphasis is now on the self. Family values are changing. The term "family rituals" not commonly heard before is being used frequently to refer to family gatherings such as birthday parties or other informal events.

We now have to find the time to meet our older parents, siblings or other relatives who live independent lifestyles. The intesity of these relationships is becoming weak, with individuals looking for materialistic and economic benifits as the the only accepted measure of social progress. Family unity is on the decline and ultimately the society will suffer.

Tehnologically we have developed by leaps and bounds, but the human beings and what makes a person happy, sad or other deeper emotions remain unchanged. We need each other in companionship and in relationships. The virtual generation has more tools availabe to make this happen but we have to recoginze this fact first, before we can begin to work to connect with each other in meaningful ways and nurture relationships for the longer term.