Too Much Input

"In the context of stress, the great paradox of the modern age may be that there is not more hardship, just more news--and too much of it. The 24/7 streaming torrent of tragedy and demands flashing at us from an array of digital displays keeps the amygdala flying. The negative and the hectic and the hopeless heap on the stress, but we figure we can handle it because we always have. Up to a point. Then, we just want to relax and take a break, so we grab a drink and plop down in front of the TV or go sit on a beach somewhere. It's not wonder that obesity has doubled in the past twenty years--our lifestyle today is both more stressful and more sedentary."SPARK, p. 69