I quite often think that our human brains have not evolved to have all the information in the world beamed at us from a device not much bigger than a deck of cards.
I love Tuesdays, because I find something from you in my inbox. Otherwise my inbox is full of things requiring my attention, because modern life and medicine seem to require constant communication. But I also spend far too many precious daylight hours simply deleting unwanted emails. It seems that no amount of deleting, blocking, unsubscribing, and occasionally responding with fury and loathing, is ever enough to stem the tide.
In my first 5 decades of life, my brain was a sponge soaking up every available bit of information on an ever increasing number of subjects, gleaned from books and professors and living in a variety of countries. I loved learning new stuff!
Home computers and the internet began the shift for me, because while Wikipedia is fantastic and world news in real time is a treat and email is a handy way to communicate, I found less and less time to think my own thoughts. I began to install filters in my brain sponge.
And then came the onslaught of social media, another double-edged sword. It has been wonderful to keep up with distant family and friends, and share photographs with people on the other side of the planet. And without social media I might never have found Tania and the Red Mare and the Place of Peace and so much more. But the sheer volume and insistence of people clamoring for attention is too much for my brain. So now I view my brain as a sieve surrounding an upgraded filter and a smaller sponge. There is an unending stream of new information pouring through, but the clever filter lets all the trash rush unimpeded through the sieve, while trapping just the interesting and worthwhile and true bits for my brain sponge to hold and keep.
This is a mental work in progress. I find that good sleep is an essential component, and hours spent outdoors with trees and animals is a huge help. Spring is coming, so I expect it to get easier. -
So true, Tania. A sweet friend of mine mentioned yesterday that she had seen a an interesting factoid of sorts regarding the vast amount of information we scroll through in a single day....phones, computers, TVs, etcetera - it is so much and so far reaching than anything Shakespeare himself would have written or uttered or read on his lifetime!
Thanks ever so softly for being precisely who you are. I’m taking care of my neighbor’s dog today, far away from news of any sort. She takes the time to sniff, I take the time to look at trees, creeks, sky, and mountains. Win/Win.
Thank you, Tania, for not being shouty, for offering us a lovely, quiet classroom in which to learn. And thank you especially for allowing horses and dogs and trees and lots of laughter into the classroom! It is my daily safe harbor in a roiling sea💖
I love Tuesdays, because I find something from you in my inbox. Otherwise my inbox is full of things requiring my attention, because modern life and medicine seem to require constant communication. But I also spend far too many precious daylight hours simply deleting unwanted emails. It seems that no amount of deleting, blocking, unsubscribing, and occasionally responding with fury and loathing, is ever enough to stem the tide.
In my first 5 decades of life, my brain was a sponge soaking up every available bit of information on an ever increasing number of subjects, gleaned from books and professors and living in a variety of countries. I loved learning new stuff!
Home computers and the internet began the shift for me, because while Wikipedia is fantastic and world news in real time is a treat and email is a handy way to communicate, I found less and less time to think my own thoughts. I began to install filters in my brain sponge.
And then came the onslaught of social media, another double-edged sword. It has been wonderful to keep up with distant family and friends, and share photographs with people on the other side of the planet. And without social media I might never have found Tania and the Red Mare and the Place of Peace and so much more. But the sheer volume and insistence of people clamoring for attention is too much for my brain. So now I view my brain as a sieve surrounding an upgraded filter and a smaller sponge. There is an unending stream of new information pouring through, but the clever filter lets all the trash rush unimpeded through the sieve, while trapping just the interesting and worthwhile and true bits for my brain sponge to hold and keep.
This is a mental work in progress. I find that good sleep is an essential component, and hours spent outdoors with trees and animals is a huge help. Spring is coming, so I expect it to get easier. -
This is very lovely indeed. Thank you for it.
So true, Tania. A sweet friend of mine mentioned yesterday that she had seen a an interesting factoid of sorts regarding the vast amount of information we scroll through in a single day....phones, computers, TVs, etcetera - it is so much and so far reaching than anything Shakespeare himself would have written or uttered or read on his lifetime!
That’s it!
Thanks ever so softly for being precisely who you are. I’m taking care of my neighbor’s dog today, far away from news of any sort. She takes the time to sniff, I take the time to look at trees, creeks, sky, and mountains. Win/Win.
Thank you, Tania, for not being shouty, for offering us a lovely, quiet classroom in which to learn. And thank you especially for allowing horses and dogs and trees and lots of laughter into the classroom! It is my daily safe harbor in a roiling sea💖
“Now I think of the overload and I determine to keep it brief and focused. If I can give you one clean thing, then I’ve done my job.”
Love this, and what a stellar job you do of giving such useful, real, clean things. I feel lucky to have my daily dose!