Modern life is very complicated. Everyone thinks about the small stuff and thinks about the big stuff, as well. I mean you're forced (and it's in your best interest) to think about big and small current events because someday they may effect you: laws regarding transportation (cars, planes), taxes, criminal mischief, death, right to die, political changes, popular media censorship, etc. They all (or someday may) effect you and everyone wants to own an opinion (if they happen to enter our lives someday). I don't like to have to think about these things because it's burdensome but everything in the World effects us all.

Listen to Alan Watts (Professor, Eastern Philosopher, Lecturer). He explains why all of this has developed in Western Culture and how it effects our lives and stifles our enjoyment and why we seek to know everything down to something smaller than the atom itself when all that we really (and can) know is the present and what's in front of our eyes. Very precise, eloquent lecturer. (Check youtube.)

"I believe that the most fascinating problem in the World is: Who am I?"