We lead somewhat sheltered lives. Travel helps and I encourage everyone who can afford to travel to do so, and to travel outside the US if possible. But even travel inside the US will help broaden ones experience *if* one is willing to travel to some places. Which places? Inner cities, reservations, elderly care facilities, prisons, hospitals; the places we squirrel away the poor and hurting and those who remind us of where we may be or where we could be one day. Travel to these places helps the visitor and those visited. Or simply visit extended family. You see, weve lost something in the US enjoyed by other cultures. When extended families continue to live together information is passed *through* and *over* generations, not just generation-to-generation. We no longer play the whisper game as children where someone begins a thought, whispers it to the next person, and so on, to the end of the people-chain. The idea at the end of the chain always changes because humans are lousy conduits of ideas. Sharing across - through - generations improves communication. Since not-trusting-anyone-over-30 weve become generational orphans. Like medicine, we do not want to take the advice of previous generations. It tastes bad and smells funny. And so we make fun of it. And lose its benefits. We throw out the grandfather with the bathwater, right along with the baby. Step out. Touch someone. Hold the hand of a grandmother or great-grandfather or friend or lover or stranger or sick child or prisoner. Technology uses words like reach to describe influence but its a terrible lie. Nothing replaces skin on skin. This is why geeks flock to conferences and those who do not attend feel left out. Its why we argue and protest and sing and laugh. Technology merely facilitates, it cannot replace. Go places. See people. Touch them - physically. Help others. In so doing you will help yourself. Visit family - especially this time of the year. Be thankful for the medicine of advice and stories shared from our elders, for the medicine will not last. Step outside the shelter of your life.
Posted on: Wed, 12 Nov 2014 11:48:03 +0000
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