Comfortably Numb: How Does Comfort Impact Our Lifestyle?
“The child is grown. The dream is gone. I have become comfortably numb,” the words from the song “Comfortably Numb” by Pink Floyd continue affecting us. It’s not only because the song has been performed so beautifully, but also because its words contain some deep meaning that can find reflection in the hearts of the majority of people. It makes us return to our childhood, our dreams and expectations and see if we fulfilled our dreams, if we had the courage to do so or if we’ve become “comfortably numb” and stopped listening to our inner self, our true desires. But, of course, every individual is going to perceive the song and the words differently.
It’s one of my favorite songs and, personally, when I listen to this song, I start thinking about why people often do the things they don’t like doing and leave all the childhood dreams unfulfilled. We tend to admire the people who’ve had the courage to follow their hearts, overturned all the difficulties and started living the life they’ve always wanted to. But not everyone is like this. And so, what are the things that can block us on the road to self-fulfillment? Is being “comfortably numb” more convenient for us? Perhaps, yes, and I think the word ‘comfortable’ is quite crucial here.
Who doesn’t like comfort? It’s more a rhetorical question, as the majority of people do enjoy leading a well-off life. And it’s not surprising. Comfortable life brings us pleasure and helps enjoy it more. Most of us like sleeping in a comfortable bed, eating excellent food, driving in a comfortable car, enjoying the vacation in a nice hotel, etc. It’s all quite natural, as if we didn’t strive for better life and comfort, we would still probably live in caves being warmed up by the fire.
I like the comfort myself, and I value the things that I can freely use now to get my life more congenial. I remember several times I was going by bus to a different city during the summer time. It was sweltering, and there wasn’t an air-conditioner inside the bus. It was very uncomfortable to travel like that. Besides, I felt rather sick after such a journey. That’s why, I think, it’s worth using all the benefits of today’s progress. Choosing a proper air-conditioner for home and have it in a bus or car, especially in the regions with hot summer, feels more like a necessity than a luxury. The same might be true about the bed with comfortable mattress, comfortable sturdy shoes, especially if you like traveling a lot, etc.
So, comfort isn’t a bad thing, – on the contrary, it can help us feel better: if we sleep in a comfortable bed, we’ll feel more healthy and energized to do the work. But, on the other hand, to make our lives more and more comfortable we have to earn more money, to work more and there is a great danger to get addicted to the well-to-do life so much that one isn’t able to function without comfort. Very often the desire to have a more enjoyable life can also lead to mindless consumerism. The comfort, thus, can become a new idol to worship, and as a sacrifice, we can give up all our dreams and inspirations in order to live even more comfortably. And so we can become “comfortably numb” and not to take into account our true dreams and desires. Too much comfort can make us sluggish, as we might rely on gadgets too much without thinking on our own. That’s why, at times, it’s good not to use calculator or GPS and let the brain work consistently instead.
Comfort is inseparable from today’s lifestyle, and it can make our life more convenient and enjoyable. And while there are things that are quite necessary to have, one should be careful not to get addicted to the comfort too much and not to accumulate unnecessary stuff. At times it’s quite beneficial to leave the comfort behind and bend an ear to one’s true wishes and dreams.
Comfortably Numb: How Does Comfort Impact Our Lifestyle?
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