Are we more lonely now that we have the world at our fingertips with the click of an app?
Thanksgiving weekend, I took a road trip with my family. It was amazing, we visited Hoover Dam, the Valley of Fire, Joshua Tree and crossed the Mohave desert. It was truly magical, I never thought the desert could be so beautiful.
I made me appreciate the contrast that nature provides us with. Living in the Pacific Northwest I’m used to huge fir trees, big leaf maples and cedar trees. The contrast between the forest I’m used to hiking in with the desert I visited, left me speechless.
Hoover Dam is magnificent example of what the human mind is capable when used for creating and building. The mix of concrete, human engineering, the majestic colors of the desert and the abundance of water, makes it a site worth seeing.
One thing that I kept noticing throughout our trip was the use of technology. Let it be someone on a video call while inside the dam, taking selfies or simply listening to music while hiking. Which kind of defeats the purpose of hiking if you ask me.
Hiking is time to immerse yourself in nature, to take it all in. To be opened and receptive to the energy and the peace that comes from disconnecting from the business of your daily life. But more than ever, I notice people walking even with a selfie stick, or a big speaker. It seems like we can’t handle the quiet of the environment or the noise in our minds.
I also noticed that at most tables we sat at restaurants, people were engaged, but not with each but with their phones. I have a love-hate relationship with technology, it is amazing and it allows me to work from home. It also allowed me to homeschool my kid for many years and spend countless hours on adventures he will always remember.
However, looking at families on vacations sitting at restaurants where everyone is looking at their phones and even children have a device, I have to wonder. Are we more lonely that we have ever been? Is technology bringing closer those who are away but separating those who are close to us?
What happened to family game nights, to big family meals with interesting conversations. What happened to charades and long hikes where children laugh and adults disconnect from their daily routines?
Is the instant gratification of social media, maddening scrolling and FOMO, creating a culture of loneliness and lack of connection? The Fear of Missing Out is greater in children, teens and young adults. But is the FOMO getting in the way of meaningful connections?
If we fear missing out, are we actually missing out on our lives and what is in front of us?
We are losing the capacity of spontaneity, of doing things just because.
Can you survive without your phone for 48 hours without feeling the pressing need to check your notifications?
How often do you go out and visit friends or have contact with humans being without technology in the middle? How often do you do activities that don’t require technology like reading, journaling, sewing, crocheting, painting, etc ….
If you can’t spend the 48 hours without checking your phone or don’t have a hobby that does not require technology, I invite you to a challenge. Challenge yourself to turn off your phone for at least 24 hours. Go on a walk in nature and pay attention to what you see, what you hear and what you smell.
Visit friends and put all the cell phones in a box so you have to talk to each other without showing pictures, looking up references or taking selfies.
Notice what you feel when you do this. Can you connect with your friends at a deeper level. Get in touch with your feelings. If 24 hours is too much, start with an hour. This will allow you to do a tech detox and start connecting with yourself. Only connecting with yourself will you learn to connect to others.
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