Before machines the only form of entertainment people really had

Hearken, children of the ages, to the words of Douglas Coupland, the chronicler of modern reflection: "Before machines, the only form of entertainment people really had was relationships." Here lies a teaching of simplicity and truth, a reminder that before the hum of gears and the glow of screens, the human heart sought its joy and wonder in connection with other souls. Life itself was the stage, and relationships were both theater and feast for the spirit.

Know that in these words there is both nostalgia and insight. The ancients would counsel that companionship, conversation, and the play of human interaction are sacred arts. To be present with another, to share laughter, sorrow, and the unspoken rhythm of mutual attention, was once the highest delight. Coupland reminds us that before machines, the soul’s sustenance came not from devices, but from the living warmth of human relationship.

Yet, consider also the subtle warning embedded in his reflection. Though machines now occupy much of our time and attention, the heart’s deepest entertainment remains found in communion, in engagement with others, and in the delicate weaving of bonds. To forget this is to drift into hollow existence, where sensation replaces meaning, and connection is substituted with mere distraction.

And behold, there is heroism in presence. To seek out another, to cultivate relationships, to engage deeply in dialogue and shared life, is to honor the essence of being human. Coupland’s insight teaches that our hearts are nourished not by fleeting amusement, but by the living currents of empathy, love, and shared experience. These are the treasures that endure beyond the fleeting allure of novelty.

Thus, remember, future generations: value the sacred art of human connection above the lure of machines. True entertainment lies not in the glow of circuits, but in the laughter, tears, and bonds that arise between kindred souls. Relationships are the playground of the spirit, the forge of character, and the sanctuary where joy and wisdom intertwine.

In the end, the ancients would say: walk among others with attention and care, for in relationships lies the truest delight. Let not the hum of machines overshadow the living music of shared life. For before any device, before any invention, the heart knew its highest pleasure in the company, the conversation, and the communion of fellow humans.