Sometimes I rant. This is one of those times.
What we desire from technology is to feel enlightened and empowered by the application, use and outcome of these magical innovations. This is especially true when it’s created in a portable and compact form, flawlessly duplicated and globally deployed. An intuitive, friendly device existing to be in mute servitude to our digitally addictive, click at a whim, push button content and needs. Yes, I’m talking about that thing in your pocket that none of us can do without. I know this because when we accidentally loose it, we completely loose our minds.
Where we’ve been all been snake bit—mislead in our pursuit of impulsive enlightenment and instant gratification, is in the insidious seduction of endless rabbit holes of free content, hollow, hell-hole promises through countless utilitarian benefits it provides us all on a daily basis. This device is a vampire that sucks on our souls, while it feeds us TicToc distractions and algorithms of Twitter bubble babble. It has no soul itself, no humanity or empathy. It cannot nurture or care about us beyond the functionality it was designed to perform in serving our ever-shortening attention span-needs of humans with fickle, opposable thumb-swiping capabilities.
True human enlightenment happens when you are unplugged, vulnerable, completely defeated and stripped from anything familiar or friendly. When you are shivering in sadness over the loss of something that can never be replaced. In that moment of grief and anxiety—then, and only then can your mind and body be gutted enough into letting go of what is superficial, hollow and impulsive. All that distractive, nonsensical bullshit that happy endorphin elves dance around and feast upon the bonfire of your inner soul.
The journey of becoming a better, more empowered human being happens only through one’s personal loss, not superficial gain. It is the excruciating painful, but necessary process. The realization of where you are in your life, your true surroundings, and being vulnerable because of them. And through that you discover, then accept that through the blindness of feelling comfortable in the mundane monotony, you never really ever had full visibility and real control of your destiny in life. You get personal agency of becoming more self-aware and present in the surprise, crisis moments that life brings us all. This acceptance of them, and embracing them when they happen can make you stronger and more confident, especially in moments where controlling one’s emotional reactions to what you need to face and claiming one’s place within that moment to conquer them.
I happened to have discovered this myself while breathing the throat burning, Canadian forest fire blanket of smog, while laying in a pathetic, fetal position behind a dilapidated, suburban track mall sprawl – Chucky Cheese garbage dumpster. 2018, what a gift!
Wishing everyone happiness in life and more engaged moments with the world.
— David Bates
