I call my friends nearly every day. We not only exchange greetings and news but stories as well. We face different challenges yet we complain of nearly the same issues. I hang up with a question lingering in my mind: Why do we nowadays suffer in our relationships? Why is life complicated? Life was never a bed of roses but why are human relationships weary?

Years flow and things happen that reveal the truth of people. We discover that those whom we rendered as honest turn out to be the opposite. A friend disappoints his friend let alone turning into a foe. Blame is getting the upper hand in many relationships. People no more accept excuses and they force each other to defend themselves otherwise they are abandoned. Selfishness and self-centred attitude are dominating many aspects of life. Man has to think twice before doing anything that he used to do willingly and voluntarily. Any simple action has to be questioned as to its consequences. Social interaction is not that simple anymore.

Who is responsible for this change? Is it social media? We cannot deny its impact on boosting individualism. People brag about their day, looks and even relationships on Facebook and Instagram accounts. They blame each other for poor interaction and they count their likes and comments. People lost their empathy and they care more about posting photos of devastating car accidents and getting sad faces rather than actual sympathy!

On the other bright side, people’s awareness towards their rights and duties improved thanks to the amount of educational videos and posts. It is now easy to get connected with psychologists, physiatrists and gurus in many specializations. With a click you educate yourself in many fields. This awareness enhanced positive attitude and people started to react differently in their lives.

Can our breath-gasping materialistic life be attainable for this sociological behavioural change?  We cannot deny the role it plays in complicating our, once simple, lives. Our social roles changed dramatically. We are pressured by time, money and commitments. Friends are no more physically close. They stay connected virtually. Personal benefits and advantages control the relation. Everything has to be in return for something. They rarely meet or interact as before.

In the middle of all this chaos, there are still people who long for genuine human relationships. They strive to keep friends and family bonds. They still give excuses and give bountifully despite all the challenges they face. They defy and egocentric lifestyle that taught people that everything has a value to pay otherwise it is a waste of time and effort. Goodness for them is not naivety and WhatsApp messages can never replace a warm call. They reject all the new normal.

New concepts reshape our society changing our expectations from each other. Tolerance is at a stake and patience, sacrifice and friendship is not a strong bond anymore. Awareness and insight is two sided. It helped some and harmed others. And amid all these advantages and disadvantages of modern life, some humans are bewildered as they are torn apart between authenticity and the new normal.