As we roll through our everyday life more than likely we will be spending part of it in front of a monitor. That monitor may be in the form of a computer monitor or a television.
What is this picture trying to say? Is it that the world can be reached from your home with the Internet? The internet is a great tool to entertain, communicate and educate.
Increasingly, we experience the world through a screen. We interact with our friends through facebook, skype, or communicate through text messages, read on the screens of our cell phones.
The existentialist defines themselves through their actions, but what if the actions we partake in are all digital, done through a screen? I’m not advocating an off the grid revolution, but I would highly recommend turning it all off for a few hours out of the day.
Find a community trail where you don’t need to worry about vehicle traffic. I guarantee there is one near you. Put on a comfortable pair of shoes (I enjoy running barefoot, but that’s a whole other blog post altogether) and get out there. Go by yourself, or with a friend, run fast, jog slow, or walk if you need to. Get out there and experience some quiet and dare to be left alone with only your own thoughts to entertain you.
Also, be sure to "Like" the existential mustache running society page on facebook. It's full of inspirational quotes, family friendly pictures, and miscellaneous tomfoolery.
This article makes a great point. That even though our society spends a great deal of time behind the "monitor" we don't have to. We need only take a few hours out of our day to enjoy life outside, whether it is through running or some other form of physical activity.
ReplyDeleteCan we ever truly experience life through a screen? There are too many firewalls to protect us from reality. Life should be experienced with all of our senses. Emotions should be invoked by more than just words and images.
ReplyDeleteI love Derick's advice to escape technology and into nature where we can "dare to be left alone with our own thoughts." In a tech savy society with instant messages and quick downloads we lose the opportunity to pause and reflect on who we are.
The idea of running makes me tired; I get enough exercise chasing after three kids. It does however sound relaxing and empowering to take a moment by myself on a walk by the river.
Thanks for the great advice Derick, I think I'll take you up on it.
Derek,
ReplyDeleteyour post makes some great points. I always think about 'shutting down' so I can connect with life and my little one in other, more important ways but somehow the time spent doing that is very little compared to 'monitor' time. I used to be a runner years ago and would like to get back into jogging or at least going on long walks with my toddler just to be in nature. Thanks for the advice.