Last week a friend of mine wanted to go kayaking with me. This is a first for him and, like most people trying this for the first time, he brought more items than he really needed including his cell phone and internet tablet. Upon arrival we walked to a break in the trees and I showed him a small launching point that is hidden from view. The sky was a perfect blue, the water was like glass surrounded by green and flanked with mountains in the background. The beautiful view had a calming effect and we both began to unload in silence. For the first time in the many years that I have known him I heard him say, “I see no point in taking my phone.” When he locked the phone away in the car I knew Mother Nature was working her magic.
It was a beautiful paddle and at the end of our journey my friend was amazed when he realized that we had been on the water for four hours. Several times I heard him say how wonderful he felt because his stress had simply melted away. There is something about being immersed in a beautiful environment that gives me back what a noisy life has taken away.
The demands of work, family, friends, financial responsibilities, chores, email, cell phones, and the social networks are part of our day to day existence but sometimes it becomes information overload. When life becomes a constant source of noise and disruptions the time spent in the silence of nature is like a battery recharge for my soul. The wilderness is like my church, a place where I feel close to God, and a place for truth because in the silence I cannot hide from my thoughts.
In today’s world, it feels as though we are communicating more yet we are not truly communicating. Too often people confuse the transfer of information as true communication. We live in world that has has caused some to escape into a facade of virtual reality. Just because someone has 500 Facebook friends does not mean that they are not lonely. A person who only has 50 facebook friends may be spending more time developing quality interpersonal relationships instead of the superficial relationships created in a virtual environment. More is not always better, it is only more.
I recently read several articles on how some young people struggle to connect with others outside of the virtual environment. There is a NY Times article that talks about internet rescue camps that have become common in China, Korea, Japan and Taiwan. These camps strive to break the addiction to virtual reality. According to the article, it is a common problem that has documented cases of Internet addiction which resulted in death. In the article, they say the preferred method of breaking the addiction is to completely remove all media devices including cell phones and immerse the person in a natural environment and incorporate outdoor activities.
The desire for a slower pace is not a new concept. Throughout time, successful hospitality businesses have marketed this concept to people who are looking for an escape from a daily routine. There was a time when we would pay extra for a hotel which had additional tools to connect with the outside world during our vacations. I was surprised at a recent article that said that the hospitality industry is targeting people in certain circles who are willing to pay as much $3000.00 a night to have what is a called a ‘black hole’ room. This is simply a room without any media access or television. On hearing this I realized that our civilization has come full circle as people attempt to retreat from the addiction of 24/7 communication.
I have never been one to buy into the concept of 24/7 connectivity. In fact, I usually keep my cell phone on silent. People do ask why I don't keep my cell phone on my person and ready for a call 24/7. My reply is, “I purchased my cell phone as a convenience for myself but when I am expected to be available to anyone at any time it is no longer a convenience, it is a leash.” Yet, too often people think that responding to the demands of the cell phone is an obligation rather than a opportunity.
It is important to stay in touch but everyone needs to find a balance. and remember that the virtual devices we use every day are only tools of convenience. While some can't live without the media devices, I find greater value in silence, in nature, in books, in paddling my kayak, or finding joy by doing some simple task like walking my dogs. This is my escape and my way of maintaining my emotional connection to the real world while maintaining my perspective on the virtual one.
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