How physical are our life-styles?

What's happening at national and community level?

What makes the news headlines? How important is sensation? Is the emphasis on material well-being limited to the 1st World?

How do I get my kicks?

How important is religion in my life? Am I a great thinker? What role do my senses and physical body play in keeping me going?

Physical Defenses

" Let's get physical". This seems to be not only the option of the yuppies in their 4x4's but also the final option chosen by many of the rest of us. It is true that this life-style does come easier to those of us on the squash courts, fast lanes and good money side of life but it also comes relatively easy to those who are deprived, depressed and despairing. Our unashamed materialism on the one hand and uncontrolled violence on the other seems to indicate the ease of use of this defense mechanism in the late 20th century!

I must admit that this active, physical life-style is not only limited to our outward bodily existence. It also finds a lot of expression in heightened activity of the mind. The number of us who are drowning ourselves in work-a-holism is becoming staggering. It seems to be much easier to bury ourselves under mountains of work and activity than to face the quiet (or turmoil) of our diminished inner lives!

Whichever way we look at it, it seems that the addiction to chemical substances is growing on a daily basis. It does not matter that some of these are perceived to be less harmful (hormones and adrenaline) than others (alcohol, steroids and cocaine). The fact is that we need these bodily stimulants more and more to help us make any sense out of our daily eating, drinking and sighing.

It does seem as if the most effective defense against the loneliness of the independent 'me' lies in a good mix of emotionalism, intellectualism and bodily activity . Those of us who live a "well-balanced life" seem to be less perturbed by the storms within and without - or so it at least seems to be on the surface!