Generation Gap

[Diana]

I'm a bit like Dtris, straddling today's world and the pre-computer world. I agree with Dtris's assessment.

I may be somewhat unique in that I use tech for business and seldom for personal life (these forums being a notable exception). Even pre-computer I didn't watch TV. But when digital tech came along, I embraced it for business. I started out traditionally, interfacing in person with clients, delivering my jobs in person. With long-distance clients the work was done via Fedex—art, photos (slides). To be honest, I don't remember how I sent the writing portion of the books I did—it must have been early email.  But I would get galleys back through the mail.

As digital tech became more widespread and varied, up to a point it was very useful and helpful. But at a certain point it became a situation of diminishing returns. Now, it's off-the-deep-end crazy. I find today's world of digital business and business tools absolutely insane. Not to mention so very few tools have anything close to a decent tutorial. The bottom line is that because of the way things are now—at least in my business—one is forced into being on a computer or device so much of the time it detracts from interaction with a natural world. It reminds me of "Office Space" where the main character finally gets out of the corporate world and takes a job so he can be outside, not sitting at a desk doing inane things.

These times are very complicated in my view, and in this, my empathy goes out to younger generations who grew up plugged into the matrix of digital living with little grounding in a natural world. At least I have lived in a world where people talked to each other in person and not on FB or in text. The richness of personal interaction is a far cry from electronically produced words on a screen. The internet has connected the world while paradoxically creating separation. There is something so much richer in personal interaction—looking into someone's eyes, experiencing the energies of a setting together, body language, hearing a voice (sound), and just being in each other's company. And now covid, or rather the reactions to covid, have further created separation—in a big way.

So my advice to young people is to not stay plugged in all the time. Don't rely on texting and FB. See each other; talk to each other in person. Experience this world and all of its nuances and richness naturally as much as possible. A photo or video of the Grand Canyon just isn't the same as experiencing its awesomeness in person. Hold hands and look at a tree, with the sweet melodies of birds enveloping you, watch the tiny insects that call the tree their home. Kiss on a beach with the breeze in your hair, the taste of salt on your lips, and your toes in the sand—not in a texted photo. Make love in the woods. Meet each other for coffee and laugh together in person without texting at the same time—give your friends your full attention.

Experience the natural world as much as you can. Who knows if you will come back here after this life. The beauty and richness of this world are worth knowing intimately.