[This is kind of ramble on subjects that I am passionate about and keen on developing, inspired by my urbanism related masters, travel endeavours, well-being and 'getting in touch with yourself' matters, and my current journey of 'being' in this world and to be human]
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Human life. Let's strip it back to basics; no screens, no images, no digital life. Just us and the raw world.
Think about what matters. Immerse yourself back into nature, notice how you feel. We are supposed to be part of this nature anyway.
Last week I went to Kurrajong in the Blue Moutains, NSW, staying on 31 acres of beautiful, untouched land, surrounded by animals, silence and the sky. It was limitless, with wild trees and flowing water down a 250ft drop creek. I felt something different there. I felt peaceful yet estranged and fearful, and from then on I wanted to change the latter.
It was a signal that I have been disconnected and sidetracked for so long, away from the reality of the world, immersed in urbanity, boundaries, systems and pattern- fictitious importance. The sheer brilliance of standing beside the scales of horses and cows even WOW'ed me. When you are in urban environments and cars, you miss the chance to absorb the true scale and perspective of being human. You whizz by it, just as you whizz by the real miles underfoot by using transport, paying no mind to the journey. The physical journey is lost and therefore so is some of its value. This is why I always try to walk whenever I can. I believe you can vividly understand movements and experiences through action. So my focus here is on the 'journey' of life, not the destination (The Happiness of Pursuit).
Last week I went to Kurrajong in the Blue Moutains, NSW, staying on 31 acres of beautiful, untouched land, surrounded by animals, silence and the sky. It was limitless, with wild trees and flowing water down a 250ft drop creek. I felt something different there. I felt peaceful yet estranged and fearful, and from then on I wanted to change the latter.
My synopsis: With intelligence as our natural survival mechanism, and little strength compared to nature, we feel vulnerable and need to erect places where we feel superior, in control and secure again. We also have a complex where we fear the incomprehensible force and size of nature, its extents and instability of it, so we retract from it. I interpret humans as species who like knowing everything, from start to finish- the unknown creates insecurity. I see urban environments as a shield, creating scales and boundaries we are comfortable within to give us purpose and power, as without them we really are little nobodies. We know it's there in the back of our minds, but in our everyday Westernising society, we don't have to address it. To maintain in control, I see parks, gardens and zoos etc. as contained access. We want to enjoy it, but at a comfortable distance. The risk of anything overcoming us is negligible here.
The digital world, screens, social media and tech are further forms of escape from reality and our natural relationships with nature. We become more adjusted to realising the importance of these things over the importance of what is bigger than us, what started us and what maintains the earth. It's so odd when you look far outside, in. They're all distractions and there is evidence of it warping our perspectives, values, ideas and beliefs.
We don’t have this worry of survival like other species- pretty lucky. And so our sights of importance shrink inwards onto silly things such as (from youth culture) our mobiles, selfies, and how to best intoxicate ourselves at the weekend... Then I ponder the superficialities of modern society and think 'do trees really judge one another on what size their trunks are, or how many shades of bark they carry?' And so I attempt to feel more comfortable in myself everyday, regardless of who has an opinion. 'Those who mind don't matter, those who matter don't mind,' and minding this quote I know exactly who and what is important in my life.
We don’t have this worry of survival like other species- pretty lucky. And so our sights of importance shrink inwards onto silly things such as (from youth culture) our mobiles, selfies, and how to best intoxicate ourselves at the weekend... Then I ponder the superficialities of modern society and think 'do trees really judge one another on what size their trunks are, or how many shades of bark they carry?' And so I attempt to feel more comfortable in myself everyday, regardless of who has an opinion. 'Those who mind don't matter, those who matter don't mind,' and minding this quote I know exactly who and what is important in my life.
To keep us grounded I hope we can all regularly put ourselves back into the unknown and discomfort of such raw places on earth. Remove your phone, connections and luxury items for a bit. I'm not talking go primate, because we can't avoid society altogether, but just take a break to realise your presence. Somewhere edgeless and quiet. We might even learn something. A book called 'The Alchemist' (Paulo Coelho, see below) I've finished, narrates how a Shepard reads from nature and his sheep to make his decisions on travel safety- a language of the world. And nowadays we use alarms to wake us instead of the sun... I know it's all inevitable, pipe down Alix blah blahh, but it still saddens me a bit that we have forgotten the value and skill to read the natural world, myself included.
Whilst you are in these places you realise what truly matters, especially during moments of solitude. Take a break from everyone. Listen to your inner-thoughts and feelings, and it really helps you gain clarity. Relating to practices of Buddhism, it can truly generate peace and reflection, better directing you on re-entrance of our normal lives. There is something wholesome about dedicating regular time to yourself, thoughts and embracing everything that pops into your head organically. Flow with them all. I'd like to call it a re-programming, and engaging with 'moment' exactly as it happens, as opposed to normal life 'peace and quiet,' which means thinking ahead, behind, or about your to-do list after work. Just 'the now,' can really help peace of mind. During this, use your mind to scan your body, describe how it feels to yourself, and tap into your breathing and other bodily rhythms. Then place yourself in the vision of your context and listen outwards, with you in the core. Address sounds and things you start to feel throughout. Welcome to meditation.
Objects, tech and digital life now aid warping these experiences with distractions, diluting our memories and own utility. We know how to interact more with the man-made nowadays than we do animals...(?!) or even worse, one another. Body language is an important communicative tool we tap less into due to media, digital messaging and devices, and our adaptive ability to mask what is truly meant. See TED Talk: Your body language shapes who you are. There are substances and nasties we humans take to keep us from reality even further, diluting real feelings, encounters, and consequences etc. In the end you're only making it harder for yourself to adapt and deal with later on, pushing your 'inner to-do list' back until it catches up with you...and it will catch up with you in one form or another. It's important to check in with yourself. I see so much of today's life as running away? But poetic and beautiful to observe at the same time. I put my thoughts into action the last few months and stripped my life back to basics: less 'stuff' (I have been living with the contents of one suitcase for nearly 6 months now and to me it's enough. I'm happy. Rarely do I yearn for new 'things'), cut the social media to go anon for a while, concentrated my usage of it, and edited content I absorb and people I give my time to. All this= less distraction, less worrying, more quality of lifestyle and more time gained on experiences in the present tense. Less IS more and I feel more empowered everyday! After some time focus then shifts naturally.
Don't get me wrong, society is amazing- full of intangible systems that maintain order, the luxury of stable life, and give birth to regular newness and wonder, but also to new ills and disorder. Learning and adapting is to be embraced everywhere here also, as a binary to nature. However there is something missing says my inner soul, no matter how much I love and respect a city and its civilisation. That, which I can liken to themes in The Alchemist, is the richly connected, fully emotive, non-judging, inner-peace of nature with its confident, modest presence for all to feel (if they are open to listening). If you listen wisely and sensibly, there is nothing to fear- it provides us with life after all!
I guess my message in this post is to (within the busy-ness of life), take a step outside your body (like a bird's eye view), reflect and remember. Reflect on how, what, and why you're here and how lucky we are to be in such a position to even reflect/have that level of awareness. This relates to a more physical act of space; entering nature and venturing outside your normal lifestyle.
Secondly- start getting 'comfortable with being uncomfortable' (credit to Jilian Michael's yoga video for this quote- it stuck with me and is widely applicable), and open up doors or topics you may not want to, or you're scared of. I think this is more of a personal journey with yourself, emotions, past experiences etc., if you feel in need of re-connecting the inner-you; mind, body and soul. I think it's important to accept truths, life as is, what you are, what you're capable of changing and handle what you're carrying around inside. Try to grasp a positive mindset- onwards and upwards! Gaining this awareness is invaluable, and is greatly correlated with the point above- physical space and objectivity away from the things and people you're used to. Break some habits!
Overall it's important not to be scared of or avoid pain. Know that being human is to experience all, and all is beneficial to growing. (READ: How Painful Emotions Can Be A Good Thing, The Mind Unleashed) I'm now humble with and grateful for what I've been through, good and bad, because it's led me to who I am today. This was something that took me a while to accept, but note after doing so, you're much freer! 'Wear Sunscreen' (Baz Luhrmann) and 'The Alchemist' both encourage a message of accepting yourself as a human with a past, present and future, your ability, and how to be grateful for what is, with where you are and what you have, whilst aiming towards your dreams. See my favourite poem on this below, 'The Guest House,' by Rumi:
This is all in the name of experiencing greater gratitude, well-being, acknowledging your own presence in the world and a more open mind. You can identify what matters to you as an individual, who matters, what you like, dislike, your yearns and contemplate a vague plan ahead to fulfilment. I think life will present clearer perspective, motivation and new found joy in return. I know it did me :)
Buddha knows. I RECOMMEND reading Tiny Buddha frequently too!
Whilst you are in these places you realise what truly matters, especially during moments of solitude. Take a break from everyone. Listen to your inner-thoughts and feelings, and it really helps you gain clarity. Relating to practices of Buddhism, it can truly generate peace and reflection, better directing you on re-entrance of our normal lives. There is something wholesome about dedicating regular time to yourself, thoughts and embracing everything that pops into your head organically. Flow with them all. I'd like to call it a re-programming, and engaging with 'moment' exactly as it happens, as opposed to normal life 'peace and quiet,' which means thinking ahead, behind, or about your to-do list after work. Just 'the now,' can really help peace of mind. During this, use your mind to scan your body, describe how it feels to yourself, and tap into your breathing and other bodily rhythms. Then place yourself in the vision of your context and listen outwards, with you in the core. Address sounds and things you start to feel throughout. Welcome to meditation.
Objects, tech and digital life now aid warping these experiences with distractions, diluting our memories and own utility. We know how to interact more with the man-made nowadays than we do animals...(?!) or even worse, one another. Body language is an important communicative tool we tap less into due to media, digital messaging and devices, and our adaptive ability to mask what is truly meant. See TED Talk: Your body language shapes who you are. There are substances and nasties we humans take to keep us from reality even further, diluting real feelings, encounters, and consequences etc. In the end you're only making it harder for yourself to adapt and deal with later on, pushing your 'inner to-do list' back until it catches up with you...and it will catch up with you in one form or another. It's important to check in with yourself. I see so much of today's life as running away? But poetic and beautiful to observe at the same time. I put my thoughts into action the last few months and stripped my life back to basics: less 'stuff' (I have been living with the contents of one suitcase for nearly 6 months now and to me it's enough. I'm happy. Rarely do I yearn for new 'things'), cut the social media to go anon for a while, concentrated my usage of it, and edited content I absorb and people I give my time to. All this= less distraction, less worrying, more quality of lifestyle and more time gained on experiences in the present tense. Less IS more and I feel more empowered everyday! After some time focus then shifts naturally.
Don't get me wrong, society is amazing- full of intangible systems that maintain order, the luxury of stable life, and give birth to regular newness and wonder, but also to new ills and disorder. Learning and adapting is to be embraced everywhere here also, as a binary to nature. However there is something missing says my inner soul, no matter how much I love and respect a city and its civilisation. That, which I can liken to themes in The Alchemist, is the richly connected, fully emotive, non-judging, inner-peace of nature with its confident, modest presence for all to feel (if they are open to listening). If you listen wisely and sensibly, there is nothing to fear- it provides us with life after all!
I guess my message in this post is to (within the busy-ness of life), take a step outside your body (like a bird's eye view), reflect and remember. Reflect on how, what, and why you're here and how lucky we are to be in such a position to even reflect/have that level of awareness. This relates to a more physical act of space; entering nature and venturing outside your normal lifestyle.
Secondly- start getting 'comfortable with being uncomfortable' (credit to Jilian Michael's yoga video for this quote- it stuck with me and is widely applicable), and open up doors or topics you may not want to, or you're scared of. I think this is more of a personal journey with yourself, emotions, past experiences etc., if you feel in need of re-connecting the inner-you; mind, body and soul. I think it's important to accept truths, life as is, what you are, what you're capable of changing and handle what you're carrying around inside. Try to grasp a positive mindset- onwards and upwards! Gaining this awareness is invaluable, and is greatly correlated with the point above- physical space and objectivity away from the things and people you're used to. Break some habits!
Overall it's important not to be scared of or avoid pain. Know that being human is to experience all, and all is beneficial to growing. (READ: How Painful Emotions Can Be A Good Thing, The Mind Unleashed) I'm now humble with and grateful for what I've been through, good and bad, because it's led me to who I am today. This was something that took me a while to accept, but note after doing so, you're much freer! 'Wear Sunscreen' (Baz Luhrmann) and 'The Alchemist' both encourage a message of accepting yourself as a human with a past, present and future, your ability, and how to be grateful for what is, with where you are and what you have, whilst aiming towards your dreams. See my favourite poem on this below, 'The Guest House,' by Rumi:
This is all in the name of experiencing greater gratitude, well-being, acknowledging your own presence in the world and a more open mind. You can identify what matters to you as an individual, who matters, what you like, dislike, your yearns and contemplate a vague plan ahead to fulfilment. I think life will present clearer perspective, motivation and new found joy in return. I know it did me :)
Buddha knows. I RECOMMEND reading Tiny Buddha frequently too!
