In a fast-paced world, the importance of slowing down and embracing present moments is often overlooked. This blog explores the benefits of taking time to be present in our daily lives.
"You Can't Eat Steam"
For Mental Health Month, I wanted to share an analogy about the accelarating and often unfullfilling nature of modern life. For all the alumni and folks from my generation, I want to first establish the desire to "cut to the chase" and "skip to the good part" has always been with us. Author Seth Godin notes how "...ever since we've had High School, there has been the instinct to read the Cliff Notes." Yet as more of our time is spent in digital spaces, this process is reaching deeper into more and more aspects of our lives.
"We're at a rolling boil, and there’s a lot of pressure to turn our work and the work we consume to steam. The steam analogy is worthwhile: a thirsty person can’t subsist on steam."
Read the full blog article here, which includes a graph of "The Dopamine Culture" by Ted Gioia.
The Harmful Effects of Constant Busyness
In today's modern society, there is a constant pressure to do everything with less attention and in a shorter amount of time. This constant busyness can have harmful effects on our mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
Firstly, constantly rushing from one task to another without taking breaks can lead to burnout. When we are always on the go, our bodies and minds do not have a chance to rest and recharge. This can result in chronic stress, fatigue, and decreased productivity.
Secondly, the constant busyness can also negatively impact our relationships. When we are always focused on the next task or deadline, we may neglect spending quality time with people we care about. This can lead to feelings of disconnect and strain in our personal connections.
Lastly, constantly being busy can prevent us from fully enjoying and appreciating the present moment. Life is meant to be experienced, but when we are always in a rush, we miss out on the beauty and joy that surrounds us.
How Farm & Wilderness Camps Can Help
At Farm and Wilderness, we can interrupt these patterns by:
- Seeing the people around us more clearly living without the distraction of screens and technology.
- Daily Silent Meeting. Taking stock of the trees and birdsong around us.
- Including appreciation and gratitude into our community habits.
- Making space for different voices to be heard. Noticing what perspectives are absent from a conversation.
- Enjoying a balance of daily routines alongside moments of surprise and wonder.
- Ackowledging that friendships and social connections are core pillars for mental health.
- Doing purposeful work together creates connection, allowing for people to contribute in different ways. We don't stop when we lose interest, we stop when the job is done - because the community depends on us.
- From the very first evening's "Cabin Contract", we are discussing boundaries. This is role-modeling and practice can be brought back home when camp is done.
- We practice "No Body Talk" to limit a deficit mindset around the gifts of our own unique bodies.
I hope you can join us this summer in the green mountains of Vermont.