photo by steed media service

“To sleep, perchance to dream — ay, there’s
the rub.” –Hamlet

When Shakespeare’s Hamlet uttered those words, he was contemplating taking his own life, but he was also tortured by the thought that the ‘sleep’ he longed for might not offer respite from his demons.

Sleep as most of us practice it, offers a moment of peace from everyday concerns. But sleep is more than the manifestation of time passing. Sleep allows the body to slow its metabolic functions, and hopefully, upon awakening, one feels rejuvenated in body, mind and spirit. But sleep can also torment and taunt as Hamlet alluded to in his soliloquy. For even as we sleep, the brain continues to process the mundane minutiae of our waking moments.

Sleepwalking through life in this society is akin to committing suicide. Big Brother knows your FICO score, I.Q. and social security number. There is almost no data that can’t be extrapolated from your life based on your social security number alone. Your health status (mental and physical) is an open book. Your financial proclivities are not a mystery, especially if you’re using credit cards. Are you a deadbeat dad? Drunk driver? You had better believe that while you are sleeping blissfully, somebody is charting, scoring and rating your life.

Are you asleep? Are these numbers registering in your head? Are you a sleepyhead who is headed towards bankruptcy because you believe that your credit score will magically rearrange itself? Entire industries have been launched to deal with the consequences of irresponsible behavior.

Are you sleepwalking? Well, it’s time to wake up. This is real life, not reality television. We all have times of sleepiness, but hopefully, at some point, we awaken. Please don’t sleep on the serious issues in your life. Far too many of us are sleepwalking through life. If we are going to create a better tomorrow, we need to be conscious today.

Peace.

Munson Steed
Publisher
pubpage@rollingout.com

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