People are talking about flying to visit family these days. There’s a running joke about the weird uncle or someone who is hard to get along with.

I hope you’re having a better time with family than the people I hear about, and they’re not the people I work with who are living more sustainably. I’m talking about mainstream people talking about their usual holiday plans.

Before flying, we used to spend time with family. Now our visits are more like Facebook interactions. We have come to see family members as problems. We only see them a few hours a year.

We used to solve problems together. Now we cover up differences, biding time until we part and don’t have to deal with them. We’ve lost the ability to handle difficult relationships and learn that managing conflict and resolving difference can bring us closer and deepen relationships. We can’t do those things if we fly away from people after each of one or two dinners together per year.

Flying only brings us to family we flew away from.

It’s hard to think of things that can tear families or communities apart more than flying. The things I can think of that tear families and communities apart more than flying are fentanyl, meth, crack, and other very addictive drugs. Maybe gambling or alcohol.

• ← Four more trashed Christmas Pagan Trees, two days before Christmas.
• Do people who fear learning to lead think it means imposing hierarchy? →