Possibly the Most Costly Addiction

Each morning, on the local news channel, a very interesting phenomena is seen. Now, I have checked around and this is not an uncommon story . . . in fact, it plays out several times during both morning and evening newscasts in a great number of cities. 'It' is the evidence of what very well may be the most costly addiction today. Have you seen anything like this?


It is a pretty common sight, and each time I see it I am reminded of a good friend who drives 12 miles one way to work. Each weekday morning and each weekday evening, the 12 mile journey takes 90 minutes . . . an average of 8 miles an hour! Her 8 or 9 hour workday is turned into 11 or 12 hours simply because of traffic.

There are a very great number of people engaged in this daily exercise, which brings up the question: "Does everyone represented in the maze of traffic enjoy what they are doing?" About half say that they do, which leaves the other half . . . those who are doing something they don't enjoy, around 10 times each week, for a considerable amount of time. That sounds like a suspiciously harmful, routine activity and yet it is socially acceptable. Have we stumbled on the first socially acceptable addiction? Well, I know there is one in the crowd that will freely admit it . . . that would be me.

At one point I was so addicted to work that I barely spent time at home to sleep. Once, (or maybe more) my boss found me asleep at a project site because there was not enough time to drive home. And if I did drive home, I was always in a panic to get back to the 'project'. So, was I addicted? I believe so. Are others caught up in this socially acceptable addiction? That is a question each person must decide for themselves.

So, why is this the most costly addiction? Divorce rates skyrocketing, families disintegrating, atmosphere being clogged with exhaust fumes, landfills piling up with worn-out tires, and most of the money for fuel going overseas are just a few of the reasons. Sadly, this addiction just seems to get worse with each succeeding generation. Why? Because there is less and less time to teach anything different.

Harry Chapin said it best in his song, "Cat's in the Cradle".
Listening to that tune makes me wonder if my sons grew up 'just like me'. I suspect, but don't really know, because addiction resulted in our family going way past 'disintegrating' . . . it was totally and completely nuked.

There it is. Another in a growing list of addictions that have affected at least a few. Are there more? Unfortunately, I believe so . . . and I still believe there is one for each of us. That leads to a whole new question - is there any hope? My own experience says there is . . . but, it is a new addiction.