“You see, lad, most people live like birds inside a cage. It makes them feel safe. The world’s a frightening place, full of glory and wonder and danger. It’s better – so most people think – to pretend it isn’t there.” – the Bard
That quote from Nancy Farmer’s “The Sea of Trolls” really struck me this week. I have lately been “waking up” as it were. I’ve been more and more aware that I have been missing life to be safe. I’ve held back, become timid and am not living the life a man, -especially a man of Scandinavian descent – should be living.
My “awakening” has been coming for a while and in a few different phases. The first thing that happened that really struck me was when, not long ago, I Googled something to the effect of, “What will replace the iPhone?” I wasn’t looking for something LESS than the iPhone, in fact I was wondering what new and better and faster thing will come out that will be MORE than the iPhone, but what I found was the Light II phone and a “light” came on for me.
The Light II phone video made woke me up a bit. It made me start thinking about not only investing in it and leaving my “smart” phone behind, but it also made me start evaluating life even more. What’s important? What’s real, and lasting? Why do I do what I do and what should I be doing less of or more of.
I started noticing people in public. We are increasingly a society who has lost the art of personal interaction. It seems everyone is on their phone. Sitting in isolation, building a world unto themselves and missing the world around them.
I’m tired of pretending the world isn’t there. I want to be in it and enjoy the glory and wonder and, yes, the danger too.
So… as I begin this journey I also wanted to begin this blog. Something simple. Something that I could make notes on for myself as I travel along but also something that you, my friends, family, and “strangers” could read along with too. I invite you to follow me here… comment when you like – are you smart-phone-addicted? do you care? are you trying to change as well? – I’d love to hear from you as I “journey to simplicity.”