Great post, ER. Thanks.

The truth is all of us, all of humanity, responds in a reactionary manner to our environment and as you pointed out fear is the biggest driver. The fear of death is put off till the last possible moment in our lives, or when we are seriously ill, but it lurks underneath a LOT of what we do.

The rich man parades his possessions to show the world what he's worth - as if that makes him better than someone without these possessions? And why? To diminish his gnawing fears that he's temporal - a passing shadow that no one will miss. Actors, performers do the same thing. They seek applause and to have their names on everyone's lips. This too is done to subdue those same fears. Fears of being insignificant, temporal and gone. The sex drive and reproduction is also a reaction to fear. As soon as the hormones kick in, an individual seeks to be around others, to create more than oneself and live on via one's family through reproduction.

All these fears. All these insecurities. All interlinked.

From the moment we take our first breath we are digging our own grave. Life/Death are two sides of the same coin, integral elements of the cycle.

Our society has become disjointed, apart and despite all the religions - lacks any true spiritual direction.

The homes, cars and highways keep people apart. Our culture has spread out and each home is a castle against the world. As the world became more dangerous, there is a certain value in distance. But we also see the downsides. People who care not a whit for others and are capable of great (as Twain might put it) "humanity".

We seek love and yet we hate all those who are different. So Love is, unfortunately, not much of a component in relationships today, replaced by joinings that quell insecurity and fulfill the sex drive. So alongside the fears is a great desire to be loved. We hear that to love others you first must love yourself. How many truly do love themselves and how many constantly berate themselves by engagin in comparisons with others?

"So n so has more money, homes and cars."

"So n so has a beautiful wife and family."

"So n so is famous."

"So n so is beautiful."

"So n so has several degrees and a great job."

Yes all these comparisons are little self-inflicted dagger wounds to our self-worth. Every day of our lives we inflict them, completely unconscious of the fact. As a result we are that much more motivated to compensate.

Compensation takes many forms. It can be a blatant physical escape mechanism like drugs, alcohol, gluttony or sex. It can be a mind distraction like, TV, films, DVD or the internet. Or it can be a more subtle compensation like saving, investing, working extra hard, having a better maintained yard, or a cleaner car than your neighbor - its manifestations are limitless.

That is part of the human experience. We are only slightly elevated from the primal animal fears. Our plumage and inflated chests now come in many more complex forms.

If society acknowledged this and each child were taught all about these defense and escape mechanisms, their usage would diminish. Also the self-inflicted comparisons would diminish, leaving people with a lot more self-respect and, in turn, love for others since they would not be so defensive.

Wars are simply insecurity on a larger scale. Violence is another one of those escape mechanisms that emerge when one feels threatened. Verbal violence escalates to physical violence and then to violence on massive scales participated in by large groups. Until the fears are banished, or at least diminished, wars will keep popping up.

Money, right now in this global depression, fuels massive insecurity and fear. This results in mass participation in escape mechanisms. Football, sports, cars, films, video games - all these are very popular escapes for men. Women shop, gossip, cook elaborate meals (The Aunt Bea type anyways), read romance novels, watch soap opers, etc. Each class has its preferred and socially accepted escape mechanisms. Their true purpose is disguised though and they are called hobbies, pastimes and such.

No one wants to look to closely at the impulses that drive us - it creates yet another insecurity.

The solution? Self-awareness. It does wonders for peace of mind. Eventually the duesie of all fears - death - is diminished by true understanding of what we are and our infinitely important role in the scheme of things.

There will never be another ER, RobVG, ET, Frank, Lindy, TB, RNE, Nick, Raoul, Phil, EP, Doug, Marsby, Marcia, MA, Art, Fox, Judy, Bowser, Eri, Laurie, Alcaray, REB, Buck, Lee, Tony, podrock, Robert, Brian, SDG, TAFKASE, McFly, Z, Socrates II, Adam, Carl, gbaikie, Jack, Johannes, DFM, pweokenyaw, S, Jeff F or SDAI-Tech1* We are all unique and individual. That alone should truly be sufficient for self-worth.

In all the infinite universe...

...you are unique.

Appreciation for others worth should climb at the same time with this recognition. Cultures, peoples and races would be less when any one is absent or extinguished. True appreciation of diversity means one does not blindy accept or endorse the practices or behavior of others, it simply means an appreciation of the differences that give more depth to life.

Eventually the fears and insecurities can be compartmentalized into a tiny box and the vast majority will enjoy life with new perspectives, new wonders and new motivations. The depth of their relationships will be multiplied a thousandfold. They will not be so busy compensating that they forget to develop that curiosity about the universe and all that's in it.

*Apologies to all those Zoners I've missed on this list.