Physicality

I have been pondering recently how important the physical world is to our health, both "physically" and emotionally.  In a world where we are increasingly detached from the physical, this need seems to be growing in intensity.  For instance, buying a head of iceberg at the store is a far cry from raising a bed of lettuce, cultivating the soil, fighting the insect and weed populations, etc.  While both examples are physical, they are quite different in degree.

In our busy, Web 2.0 world there has been a reduction in physical interaction.  This has been a huge advantage in situations where physical interaction is impossible (like our family back West), but I wonder if it actually harms my relationships where it might replace the need for physical interaction.  For instance, I might see someone briefly on the weekend, but instead of spending time conversing in person, I might just confirm that I "read your blog this week," with a knowing nod, a reassuring glance, and then I am on my way.

A wise person recently likened experiencing life electronically as "pornographic" in nature.  In the sense that "real" life for this person is always NOW, always PHYSICAL, and necessarily always PRESENT.  This person is someone I hold in high esteem, both for their wisdom, but more importantly for their authentic life.  I should clarify that this person was not denigrating the internet, computers, blogging, facebook, etc.  Rather, they were making the point that whenever it replaces the REAL THING, it has become a way to meet a human need in an unhealthy manner (hence the pornographic metaphor).  I think there is truth in this.  

Certainly for me a big part of my discontent in life stems from a sense of detachment, a lack of meaning in life.  Some of my greatest joys of late have come from getting my hands dirty in the garden, working on an engine, taking pictures with a camera, or just hanging out with friends.  I honestly can't remember the last time I experienced a lot of "joy" sitting in front of a computer.

It seems to be a fact of human history that people used their bodies in far greater degrees than today.  People had to do things MANUALLY all the time, whether harvesting vegetables, washing clothes, or even walking to the neighbors.  Today it seems that the "white collar" professional is rarely forced to use their body out of necessity (hence 2/3 of Americans are overweight) .  Even the working class are mostly running machines these days, not actually crafting or building something with their own hands.  I think a great deal of unhappiness comes from a life that treats the body as a holding place for our brain.  Our grey matter does all the work, and the body simply serves to facilitate its needs. 

As enchanted as my generation is with novelty and technology, I am certain that there will never be Physicality 2.0.  We are stuck with hands and feet, dirt and trees, and a physical world that we were once far more a part of.  It is no wonder that I hear that there has been a recent trend of young folks abandoning their high paying jobs in the city and looking for life in a more rural setting.  That doesn't mean you can't live a physical life in an urban setting, but I am finding you have to be even more intentional in order to achieve this.  I find it much easier to read someones blog than to try and meet them for coffee, yet I wonder how much life I am missing when I choose that option.