Some might say this is for good - and in many ways it certainly is! We've been able to uncover some amazing medical treatments and new knowledge which would never have been known had we not have the high tech research and technology of today. We are able to communicate with anyone in the world with the use of communication forms such as social media, email, skype and internet forums. We have technology that is labor saving, meaning that we have the capacity to build new suburbs within weeks! We know how to live (although, unfortunately this is not followed through by many as is reflected in the high rates of preventable lifestyle diseases and illness among developed countries), to give ourselves a gradually higher, and higher life expectancy. We are able to travel to and PAY for regular visits to other countries at the tips of our fingers, or keyboard!
Of course, the above changes are only the tip of the ice-berg, but it is truly incredible how far we have come in many ways.
On the other hand - as we met and spoke to many local village people, we were reminded of the importance and place of simplicity. These village people live in very basic concrete and wooden buildings, most of which do not have doors, are hand made by the families who live in them, do not have electricity, live off a choice of a handful of different ingredients to cook each meal and live off the land - in peace.
What really strikes me about these people is how placid, relaxed, not anxious, not searching for more, not in competition with anyone and how incredibly friendly they were to each other (and us!). They live in a world that they created. They do not have money - barely enough to live. They are in no way effected or pushed along by the fast pace of a Western or modern society. Each person has their own place, their role to play in the village and they have a huge importance on religion and family. The few cars and scooter bikes on the road as their main means of transport can sometimes we stuck in traffic jams lasting hours, part of the problem of having no over-bearing road rules or traffic control systems in place. But you know what - we have not seen one crash, one angry driver argument or so much as a scowl from someone who thought another pushed in front of them. If anything - they went out of their way to make sure the cars and bikes around them were ok and had room to fit on the road safely! Again - they have the nature filled with beauty, love and content.
To compare this way of living with the developed world, if we have come so far as a society - then why the hell are we so unhappy??
Is it that we have too much information and knowledge at our hands? So much that we remain in the ever present search for improvement and perfection in everything we do? Could knowledge and money not be such a positive thing?
Is it that we are too engulfed in our virtual worlds that we have lost of sense of who we are as a race?
As I sit here in the afternoon sunshine looking at the people around me (completely contradicting this blog, or perhaps proving the point?), all but one of the fifteen people here have reached down to utilize the hotels wifi and scan on facebook, instagram, twitter, check emails or to work on business documents at least once in the last hour. We are so connected with every part of the world that we don't know how to get off the merry-go-round or 'Fear Of Missing Out' on something.
What happens if something happened on 'The Bachelor' back home and I missed it? What happens if something happened at work or to someone I know (but potentially haven't spoken to since high school 15 years ago!!) and I am not there to hear about it straight away?? Haha - do you see how ridiculous that sounds? Although this is one of a million examples of technology uses in our lives, but do we honestly think that knowing the details of people we do not even associate with anymore is going to effect our lives AT ALL???
I'll be honest - I have been known to wake up, lay in bed for half an hour checking emails and social media before I actually start making use of the day ahead (sneaking in a few social media checks throughout the day). I read somewhere that an average young adult uses social media for 6 hours a day!!! 6 hours!! Holy cow - and we all complain that there are not enough hours in the day to do the things we want or need to!
Back to knowledge - if knowledge is power, and the labor saving devices we have created through this knowledge has the capacity to make an incredibly sublime human race. How are we at our highest rate of obesity, diet related illness (note - labor saving has given us processed and nutritionally lacking convenience food - no sign of MacDonald's or 'H.J's in Ubud!!), stress levels, back problems and mental health issues? I'm sure that whoever the creators of many of the devices did not have these thoughts in the back of their minds when they were putting their knowledge to work, but look how we have somehow managed to create a monster out of the once simple, but effective way of living - such as many cultures do - living off the land.
In real terms - there is not a possibility of going back in time, and as I said earlier, we have gained plenty and will continue to expand in our technology and understanding of the world. But perhaps it's time for us to chill out, tune out and give ourselves some time to reflect.
Give your soul a break and the chance to think about and act on what makes it shine so passionately.
Lets not remember the hundreds of years of knowledge that our ancestors gained and lived with before technology and 'power finances' began to develop. What REALLY matters to you? What, if you sat and thought about it could you place low on the catastrophe scale of things that happen to you?
You spill some coffee on the way to work - annoying yes, but deal breaking and actually affecting the outcome of your life - NO!
You didn't see the dress Hayley Adcock or Bec Judd were wearing at the 'Brownlow medal' last night - damn - but you know what, I am in no way, shape or form going to be a better or worse form than if I did see it!
Miss out on your favorite bootcamp instructor because your alarm didn't go off that morning - incredibly annoying, agitated yes - but soul destroying NO!
My point is - lets just put things in perspective.
I would encourage all of you to make sure you immerse yourself in a village or culture that is set apart from the developed world (better yet, go and do some volunteering or regular travel), to remind you of how importance simplicity in our lives.
Simplicity is sometimes the most effective thing you can do and base your lives on - we still have so much to learn from our under-developed friends. Love, passion, peace and spirituality.
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