Stop Searching for Your "Inner Child" !!

A decade or so ago,some prominent members of the Mental Health community -who certainly should have known better-began urging Americans to " get in touch with your inner child ".

Regrettably , large numbers of people took this advice to heart ; but the majority got in touch with their "inner brat" - and we are now inundated with hordes of self-involved ,thoroughly spoiled, altogether intolerable " inner children " !

These inner children tend to talk about themselves , and they expect others to listen attentively while they describe THEIR (usually petty) woes, THEIR clothing, THEIR hair,THEIR high-speed toys,THEIR most intimate ailments.

Here's an example my son gave me. A mother,shopping in a department store,held a loud conversation with her daughter about the daughter's yeast infection. In order to hear better over the store noises, the devoted Mom made use of the "speaker phone" feature : thus treating all and sundry to both sides of the conversation.

Here's another example. The New Jersey Legislature is actually considering a bill which would prohibit the use of "text messaging" while operating a motor vehicle. Numerous police officers testified they had seen people steering cars with their knees - while using both hands to "text"...during rush hour...in a 65 mph zone...in blinding rain and snow .

Then there is the whole Cell Phone Cult.

Everywhere you look,everywhere you go (especially in "no cell phone" areas) you will find people engaged in loud, animated cell phone conversations. Are they negotiating peace in the Middle East ? Discussing the intricacies of a piece of research that will change the world forever? Sealing the Deal of the Century ?

Nope. They are talking - for the most part - about themselves : about their "inner child".

You don't have to look too far or too long at our society to see what happens when adults revert to bratty attitudes and behavior; and you don't have to be a wild-eyed prophet to know no good can come of it .

America, it's time - no - it's PAST time to discover your Inner ADULT !