Hi All,
Technology is a wonderful tool. It has made all of our lives easier but also more complex. It is curious to me how involved we have become with our new toys. There are iPhones, iPads, all phones smart and their accessories. What has caught my interest is that rarely do I see anyone who is outside walking, alone or with others completely out of tune with the external physical world. In fact I doubt that even the people with whom they walk and seemingly talk are really listening.
Check it out if you do not believe me. It is a straight ahead look, or, more often than not a downward look or gaze (there is a difference). Even if the environment is a familiar one (such as your own neighborhood) the person is not really communicating with their world. You know, the one that has beautiful blue skies, drifting high clouds or low fog. I am in town right now as I write this (SLO), and I heard the cry of this beautiful and wondrous hawk. She was sitting in a three or four story leafless tree majestically and brilliantly positioned as a Queen might view her kingdom, but not one person looked up to search out the hawk’s cry.
One might suggest that the people were too caught up in their world, true, yes. Or, one might suggest that the people in this afternoon dream simply are used to such a sight and sound, true, yes. Perhaps they just did not care and that is a worrisome consideration. My point here is not that we live in such a beautiful town and just are used to such an event as a beautiful hawk sitting in the middle of town in an equally beautiful tree. My point is that we do not seem to live in the “outside” physical world any longer. We seem to live inside our phones, laptops, and other such contemporary tools. No, we seem to have lost touch with a significant part of our waking reality.
Next time you are outside take the time to look up at the sky, clouds, airplanes and wildlife. All of them exist for us to be aware of them. Who knows what you might see next time you take a glance!
Aho
Curtis Williams. MA, A.P.D., CRTM
Location:Piedra Springs Rd,Arroyo Grande,United States