The Priorities of the Public

Recently my attention was diverted to the television where I noticed that not only are there still quite a few realities shows around but they now seem to have taken a dark and sad twist. We are privy to the details of peoples lives through shows such as "Intervention", "16 & Pregnant", "The 680 lb Virgin", and "Hoarders". I bring this depressing little corner of American media up because it got me thinking about people and their priorities.

In the beginning of each "Hoarders" episode, the producers introduce you to the people profiled and there is a caption on the screen which reads that "3 million Americans have the disease of hoarding", that many live with the condition for their entire lives undetected and that it is a crisis that brings them to rectify their living situation and deal with their disease.

These folks seem like good people, many of them are either raising children or have raised children in what can only be described as absolute squalor. The homes are always rental properties and the people have always had financial issues which are exacerbated by the spending and wasting involved in their lives.

Now of course this is an extreme example about the skewed priorities of regular people highlighted by A&E or other media outlets for the horrification and entertainment of the general public but I was thinking about the priorities of the people I see on a day to day basis. Generally their own health is pretty close to bottom of the list. Typically it is work, kids, home, spouse, themselves (but this can mean anything from a Sunday of golf with two hours at the nineteenth hole to a massage). Until recently when I met this woman who had had enough and decided to realign her priorities. She has a twelve year old son and a highly demanding job which requires her to move every 2-4 years and after ten years of this and gaining an additional 30 pounds she has had enough.

So much of what we talk about is the 5 Spheres - Social, Intellectual, Spiritual, Physical, Emotional. It is interesting to see the result in someones life when these are dramatically off-kilter. It is incredibly easy to do within our own little bubble but important beyond words to help those that are asking for it to see where they need to add that balance.


-Angela Tames