Been Hitting Fast Forward?

We watched the Adam Sandler movie Click again the other night.

SPOILER WARNING: Do not read on if you are planning to watch the movie and want the moral of the story to be a surprise.

In the movie, Newman is deciding between work and family and, unfortunately, always chooses work over family. He comes into possession of a universal remote that is truly universal, it allows Newman to control everything in his life. The trouble is that the device remembers your preferences and acts on its own. Soon Newman is missing commutes, fights, illness and other events in his life because the remote is fast forwarding through them so Newman does not have to experience them. He realizes he is missing his life and loved ones as a result and wants the fast forwarding to stop.

The lesson is pretty straightforward: We cannot skip or wish away any part of our life without giving up the experience that comes with it. We must truly live each moment of our lives.

But that leaves some questions. Why is this lesson lost on so many of us? Sandler did not come up with a new philosophy or insight, he just came up with his own way of telling a lesson we already know. What will it take to make a dramatic change away from trading the present for the future and from trading people we love for things we want? Individual people can and do make this change, but to do so, they are fighting the system. So, the big question is how do we change the system so more people can make the change?

I invite your suggestions.

Shaun