Your best ever…our connection to REAL life is now illuminated in a geometric shape, small enough to be held in our hands and lit up with lights that mess up our balance….our brain and the truth that exists beyond the box…
The synchronicity and timing of this signal fire with what I’ve been thinking and wondering about is wild. On Friday, Earth Day, I texted a poem by Mary Oliver to a new friend. The poem is about beauty and finding it and I texted him “I hope you find something beautiful today.” And I promised I would share the beauty I found with him. Just the simple statement of writing that made me more curious, more conscious of looking for and seeking out beauty that day. Yes, I was using my phone to capture that beauty so I could share it, but I was more intentional about it than if I was just snapping random photos. And when I shared a couple beautiful photos with him, his response was “thank you.” I’ve found myself on my phone WAY more than I would like to be and it’s become an addiction. A piece of technology that diverts my attention and makes me lose minutes and hours of the day. For what? Why? So I can see other people living and traveling and being silly and performing random tricks and ?? It all seems so pointless to watch other people live those experiences and not be out there doing it myself. So thank you Tyler for this wake-up, for this important reminder that I need to put the phone down, turn it off, close the apps, and go out into the world to seek out and find and witness and then, maybe, share as many beautiful things as I can.
If I may piggyback a little on Amber’s comment - specifically the phone distraction part - I may wax a little meta-existenti-sophical here but I was thinking of going for a walk today between church and meeting my family to plan the memorial service for my dad.
I thought - I’ll leave my phone at home to charge while I walk….but…how will I track my steps (thank you apple “health” app) or how long I have been away so I am not late. What if a red tailed hawk or gorgeous blooming rose catches my eye - if I don’t photograph it, did it really happen? Is my word not enough? Is my experience not enough?
And Lord forbid that I walk without Bluetooth headphones on with a music or a podcast drowning out the noise of playing children, calling birds, barking dogs passing trains and Sunday traffic.
My senses dulled.
I honestly wondered how I could do this walk.
Well, I’m getting ready to eat lunch now then I will figure it all out…there is beauty out there to be discovered and I am gonna miss a lot of it because of the visual/auditory/mental noise overshadowing the glorious obvious right in front of me.
Yes. So beautifully put. And even as much as it bothers me too, I catch myself falling victim sometimes. I try to be aware and ration my time with devices. But it's such a fine line to walk. I agree whole heartedly that there is so much to witness in the world, and as a species, we are losing our ability to be truly alive.
While listening to your podcast I kept remembering a picture that was published recently. It showed the interior of a packed commuter train heading to New York City approximately one hundred years ago. Every single person in the car was holding a newspaper, completely absorbed and seemingly oblivious to the world around them. Also, I remembered tirades against television in the '70s and how it was "warping" minds. Maybe you just fear this technology on some level and, as a consequence, only see the negative. Personally, I've been exposed to incredible beauty, moving insight and wonderful ideas through my electronic devices. Your weekly podcast being part of that. Beauty is everywhere, if only you'd open your eyes!
I have a like / hate relationship with technology. I try so hard to distance myself from my phone, deleting the apps that mindlessly glue me to it, then watch as my dependence on my phone creeps back in, and I add those apps back, or add new ones. I am currently on a break from all forms of social media, and it is doing me a lot of good.
I like to think I am someone who has never stopped noticing the beauty of the world, I am the spotter of wildlife and the first to notice the sunset or the moon or a cool tree / rock / cloud.
I remember a childhood roaming free without mobile phones or youtube or iPads or social media… I remember the freedom and the games and the imagination… I ache when I see my own children glued to their screens. I tell myself it is the way of the world now, and I have to accept it. But there is a part of me that hopes for some revolution!
Excuse the ramble here… what I’m trying to say, is thank you Tyler for your uncanny knack of saying the things I feel. You’re a part of social media I do actually miss… luckily for me I have these newsletters to get me by.
I was just if thinking about this yesterday watching my daughter celebrate her 15th birthday with her friends. Even in the middle of their fun their hands weren’t without their phones for more longer than five minutes. I was thinking “what the hell are they’re enjoying what they’re doing ? How can they think about it if they’re actually enjoying their time?” It made me sad for my daughter, though she was right there with them insta—ing each other.
Love how this kicks us in to another realm. Grabbing a bit of beauty is why I still take my dog out on 4 am walks. It's peaceful, indigo sky, the stars remind me that nothing has changed really, they're still here. It's calming when I'm working with constant crises at work during the day, to remember that morning.
I've been listening and watching alot of documentaries lately about AI and how it's all headed. It seems that the Matrix of Virtual Reality is on the immediate horizon. Let's take hold of that nature and keep it close. I cannot even wonder how we'll get to people who have escaped this real world. God help us with this future. I hate to be negative about our future, as apparently Elan Musk seems to think we'll be okay. I'll keep my fingers crossed that humanity and awareness will break through this.
I know what you mean. I went to our annual Halloween parade and celebration in our small town, with a good friend of mine. We were both costumed. The problem with it was that she had to stop every ten steps to photograph herself with someone in an outrageous costume. I finally gave up stopping with her, and just walked at my own pace and made conversation with complete strangers. It made me weary, especially when she loaded 15 photos on to Facebook when we sat down for a beer. She's 50 - what is happening?
You nailed it Tyler, let's keep this going. What about reading a bedtime story, what about playing with real puppies and kittens, and even with your own children.
My 16 yr old says that at a lot of parties, people are mostly sending Snapchats etc. to others to show that they are at the party, rather than partying with the people who are there. What kind of party is that, I wonder. The last time I went on a vacation (pre-Covid) it occurred to me that I should live each experience rather than than focus on recording it. We solely focus on pictures and video snips to remember and don’t use our other senses to experience and encode our memories. When we are always listening to something on a device, we are cut off from the sounds of the world around us and from ourselves, unable to listen to our inner voices, or just experience stillness within. Your essay focussed on our experience of beauty and the world around us (and I encourage you to publish these essays in a book, as you mentioned) but we could go on and on about how technology and social media has transformed how we think, how we spend our time, how we interact. I worry about young people in particular who don’t necessarily have the critical thinking skills to assess what they are watching and appreciate what is real and right.
Today I drove three hours back from being with my mother. I do this twice a month - a 6 hr. round trip. I have podcasts, books, and music I'll listen to. I've done this trip where I didn't listen to a thing for the solid 3 hrs. Those were trips where I've needed to either pray or cry. Today, I did the drive and spent the time thinking. In those 3 hours I mentally composed two poems, one song, decorated an empty wall above my buffet table, figured out a problem I've been having at work, decided on my menu for the week, made some decisions on some recently-acquired dilemas, forgave a family member in my heart, spent ample time imagining what it'll be like to fall in love again, and prayed for my children. When I arrived home I felt accomplished and content. In the future, I'm going to make this a habit. It felt really good and I kinda like my own company. ;) Thanks for the nudge.
Synchronicity on point, for the 3rd time today. I’m going to preface this and say that the kids are alright. I did a flashback to the 80’s with some music earlier and read the comments while I listened. It’s a bit of time travel we all do, and another commenter here nailed it. Back then, we couldn’t wait for the future. The future comes and we reminisce of the past. It’s bittersweet, and that is also part of the beauty of it. We’re having a human experience, and this great awakening, these growing pains, comes to all. The light comes on and we step back. We transform. My daughter is visiting Oregon and right as I was texting for her to send me pictures of beautiful things, she sent landscape photos. The tulips were in full bloom and I knew she was appreciating them. I have the Animal Spirit deck in your photo, and in honor of your post and this group I decided to pull a card.
Raccoon: Talented, shadowy, in hiding
Raccoon energy is at play within all artists, to greater or lesser degrees. At best, it indicates talent, tenacity, and skillfulness with a particular musical instrument or creative tool. It’s shadow side points to an unresolved issue around self image and success. Sometimes using a stage name or wearing a “mask” works in an artists favor. Other times, it limits creativity. Am I who my audience thinks I am? What if I’m ready to grow into something more? Raccoon energy won’t let us off the hook until this creative ego fear is resolved.
All the world is indeed a stage. The bottom of the deck was the Phoenix.
Your best ever…our connection to REAL life is now illuminated in a geometric shape, small enough to be held in our hands and lit up with lights that mess up our balance….our brain and the truth that exists beyond the box…
The synchronicity and timing of this signal fire with what I’ve been thinking and wondering about is wild. On Friday, Earth Day, I texted a poem by Mary Oliver to a new friend. The poem is about beauty and finding it and I texted him “I hope you find something beautiful today.” And I promised I would share the beauty I found with him. Just the simple statement of writing that made me more curious, more conscious of looking for and seeking out beauty that day. Yes, I was using my phone to capture that beauty so I could share it, but I was more intentional about it than if I was just snapping random photos. And when I shared a couple beautiful photos with him, his response was “thank you.” I’ve found myself on my phone WAY more than I would like to be and it’s become an addiction. A piece of technology that diverts my attention and makes me lose minutes and hours of the day. For what? Why? So I can see other people living and traveling and being silly and performing random tricks and ?? It all seems so pointless to watch other people live those experiences and not be out there doing it myself. So thank you Tyler for this wake-up, for this important reminder that I need to put the phone down, turn it off, close the apps, and go out into the world to seek out and find and witness and then, maybe, share as many beautiful things as I can.
If I may piggyback a little on Amber’s comment - specifically the phone distraction part - I may wax a little meta-existenti-sophical here but I was thinking of going for a walk today between church and meeting my family to plan the memorial service for my dad.
I thought - I’ll leave my phone at home to charge while I walk….but…how will I track my steps (thank you apple “health” app) or how long I have been away so I am not late. What if a red tailed hawk or gorgeous blooming rose catches my eye - if I don’t photograph it, did it really happen? Is my word not enough? Is my experience not enough?
And Lord forbid that I walk without Bluetooth headphones on with a music or a podcast drowning out the noise of playing children, calling birds, barking dogs passing trains and Sunday traffic.
My senses dulled.
I honestly wondered how I could do this walk.
Well, I’m getting ready to eat lunch now then I will figure it all out…there is beauty out there to be discovered and I am gonna miss a lot of it because of the visual/auditory/mental noise overshadowing the glorious obvious right in front of me.
Don’t miss it family…
Yes. So beautifully put. And even as much as it bothers me too, I catch myself falling victim sometimes. I try to be aware and ration my time with devices. But it's such a fine line to walk. I agree whole heartedly that there is so much to witness in the world, and as a species, we are losing our ability to be truly alive.
While listening to your podcast I kept remembering a picture that was published recently. It showed the interior of a packed commuter train heading to New York City approximately one hundred years ago. Every single person in the car was holding a newspaper, completely absorbed and seemingly oblivious to the world around them. Also, I remembered tirades against television in the '70s and how it was "warping" minds. Maybe you just fear this technology on some level and, as a consequence, only see the negative. Personally, I've been exposed to incredible beauty, moving insight and wonderful ideas through my electronic devices. Your weekly podcast being part of that. Beauty is everywhere, if only you'd open your eyes!
I have a like / hate relationship with technology. I try so hard to distance myself from my phone, deleting the apps that mindlessly glue me to it, then watch as my dependence on my phone creeps back in, and I add those apps back, or add new ones. I am currently on a break from all forms of social media, and it is doing me a lot of good.
I like to think I am someone who has never stopped noticing the beauty of the world, I am the spotter of wildlife and the first to notice the sunset or the moon or a cool tree / rock / cloud.
I remember a childhood roaming free without mobile phones or youtube or iPads or social media… I remember the freedom and the games and the imagination… I ache when I see my own children glued to their screens. I tell myself it is the way of the world now, and I have to accept it. But there is a part of me that hopes for some revolution!
Excuse the ramble here… what I’m trying to say, is thank you Tyler for your uncanny knack of saying the things I feel. You’re a part of social media I do actually miss… luckily for me I have these newsletters to get me by.
I was just if thinking about this yesterday watching my daughter celebrate her 15th birthday with her friends. Even in the middle of their fun their hands weren’t without their phones for more longer than five minutes. I was thinking “what the hell are they’re enjoying what they’re doing ? How can they think about it if they’re actually enjoying their time?” It made me sad for my daughter, though she was right there with them insta—ing each other.
Love how this kicks us in to another realm. Grabbing a bit of beauty is why I still take my dog out on 4 am walks. It's peaceful, indigo sky, the stars remind me that nothing has changed really, they're still here. It's calming when I'm working with constant crises at work during the day, to remember that morning.
I've been listening and watching alot of documentaries lately about AI and how it's all headed. It seems that the Matrix of Virtual Reality is on the immediate horizon. Let's take hold of that nature and keep it close. I cannot even wonder how we'll get to people who have escaped this real world. God help us with this future. I hate to be negative about our future, as apparently Elan Musk seems to think we'll be okay. I'll keep my fingers crossed that humanity and awareness will break through this.
I know what you mean. I went to our annual Halloween parade and celebration in our small town, with a good friend of mine. We were both costumed. The problem with it was that she had to stop every ten steps to photograph herself with someone in an outrageous costume. I finally gave up stopping with her, and just walked at my own pace and made conversation with complete strangers. It made me weary, especially when she loaded 15 photos on to Facebook when we sat down for a beer. She's 50 - what is happening?
You nailed it Tyler, let's keep this going. What about reading a bedtime story, what about playing with real puppies and kittens, and even with your own children.
My 16 yr old says that at a lot of parties, people are mostly sending Snapchats etc. to others to show that they are at the party, rather than partying with the people who are there. What kind of party is that, I wonder. The last time I went on a vacation (pre-Covid) it occurred to me that I should live each experience rather than than focus on recording it. We solely focus on pictures and video snips to remember and don’t use our other senses to experience and encode our memories. When we are always listening to something on a device, we are cut off from the sounds of the world around us and from ourselves, unable to listen to our inner voices, or just experience stillness within. Your essay focussed on our experience of beauty and the world around us (and I encourage you to publish these essays in a book, as you mentioned) but we could go on and on about how technology and social media has transformed how we think, how we spend our time, how we interact. I worry about young people in particular who don’t necessarily have the critical thinking skills to assess what they are watching and appreciate what is real and right.
Today I drove three hours back from being with my mother. I do this twice a month - a 6 hr. round trip. I have podcasts, books, and music I'll listen to. I've done this trip where I didn't listen to a thing for the solid 3 hrs. Those were trips where I've needed to either pray or cry. Today, I did the drive and spent the time thinking. In those 3 hours I mentally composed two poems, one song, decorated an empty wall above my buffet table, figured out a problem I've been having at work, decided on my menu for the week, made some decisions on some recently-acquired dilemas, forgave a family member in my heart, spent ample time imagining what it'll be like to fall in love again, and prayed for my children. When I arrived home I felt accomplished and content. In the future, I'm going to make this a habit. It felt really good and I kinda like my own company. ;) Thanks for the nudge.
Synchronicity on point, for the 3rd time today. I’m going to preface this and say that the kids are alright. I did a flashback to the 80’s with some music earlier and read the comments while I listened. It’s a bit of time travel we all do, and another commenter here nailed it. Back then, we couldn’t wait for the future. The future comes and we reminisce of the past. It’s bittersweet, and that is also part of the beauty of it. We’re having a human experience, and this great awakening, these growing pains, comes to all. The light comes on and we step back. We transform. My daughter is visiting Oregon and right as I was texting for her to send me pictures of beautiful things, she sent landscape photos. The tulips were in full bloom and I knew she was appreciating them. I have the Animal Spirit deck in your photo, and in honor of your post and this group I decided to pull a card.
Raccoon: Talented, shadowy, in hiding
Raccoon energy is at play within all artists, to greater or lesser degrees. At best, it indicates talent, tenacity, and skillfulness with a particular musical instrument or creative tool. It’s shadow side points to an unresolved issue around self image and success. Sometimes using a stage name or wearing a “mask” works in an artists favor. Other times, it limits creativity. Am I who my audience thinks I am? What if I’m ready to grow into something more? Raccoon energy won’t let us off the hook until this creative ego fear is resolved.
All the world is indeed a stage. The bottom of the deck was the Phoenix.
I think the answer is yes, especially of the small things. It's linked to our increasing intolerance of (potential) boredom.