“Nature and Books belong to the eyes that see them.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Navigating Reality: When Technology Replaces Genuine Experience

Technology, a tool or a crutch?

How much do we notice anymore? When was the last time you took the time to observe something in nature or look around at most anything? I don't know the full answer to this question, but I do know that it is worth considering.

On my walk today, I came across several people playing Pokémon. What struck me was that each time I crossed paths with them, several people were oblivious to their surroundings and could have run into me if I had not moved. This is one thing that concerns me. When did we prioritize a simulation of reality (via whatever version of technology) so much that we miss living life and become so tuned out?

Now I know there are so many more uses of technology than just Pokémon. Many uses can be genuinely good. The thought still stays with me though, that we should be able to unplug from our devices and take in the world around us. To notice our surroundings. To wander in thought.

Technology should be a tool that helps us navigate the world around us. But I look around, and more and more, technology has become something many people depend on. Instead of it supporting us through life, it has become our world.

The world has changed in what is prioritized. But are we prioritizing the right thing?

I think kids, especially, should be given the opportunity to explore the world around them without being "plugged in" to devices. To learn how to sit with their own thoughts as they observe what is around them. It used to be the natural thing that would happen in childhood. Now it seems we have to create space for that to happen for our children.