My trip to Hawaii was wonderful. It was great to spend time with
my family and explore new sights and terrain. I also enjoyed
the opportunity to distance myself from my computer and
technology. I found the separation to be a healthy and
rejuvenating experience.
For someone whose intention it is to stay fully present in my
heart, I find that technology has the ability to keep me trapped in
my head. I can easily get sucked into my computer and completely
lose track of time and my focus. After doing so, I often feel
buzzed and even a bit dizzy. I am sure that some of this is from my
head injury, but I often wonder if others are similarly affected.
While visiting the Pacific Whale Foundation in Maui, I came across
a book titled Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From
Nature-Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv. (Click
for Author's Web Site)
It is about the many
children today who have lost their connection to nature due to the
fact that they spend the majority of their time indoors (playing
video and computer games and watching television). It made me
sad to think of anyone missing the opportunity to understand the
delightful power of Mother Nature and her
abundant gifts; something for which we often take for granted.
I live in a small mountain community visited by over three million
people a year who come to explore Rocky Mountain National Park. It’s not hard to spot the out of towners as they are the ones
loudly talking on their cell phones in the checkout line at
the supermarket, painfully unaware of their surroundings. They seem rushed, confused, and clearly not
present. It is my hope that after spending some time in the park
(where there is no cell phone coverage by the way) that they will
re-emerge with a new sense of connection both to nature and to
themselves. Perhaps they will also bring this reconnection with
them as they journey back home and plunge back into their fast-paced, technologically rich lives.
I was once on the leading edge of the technological world. I
had an electronic newsletter long before a lot of people had email
or
a Web site. But over the past several years I have become out of touch with
technology. I made a conscious choice to explore other things that
had greater appeal to me (like spending time with my young daughter
rather than learning how to properly operate my digital camera). I
often wonder if my life has suffered for it, but when I consult my
heart, I feel pleased with my choices. Perhaps I don’t know what I
am missing, but judging from the joy I feel living at a snail’s
pace here in the Rocky Mountains I am content not knowing how to
text message (gasp!) while still listening to CDs on my walkman.
I ask you, does your soul yearn for a slower pace or a deeper
connection within yourself? If so, might time spent in nature help
you fulfill your intention? What might happen if you did?
Have a rejuvenating week,
