The BATTLE for our attention
The apple vision pro is out. While we're polluting and destroying our world more and more, we are also made to immerse more and more in a virtual reality. VR will "enhance" our experiences, while simultaneously dulling our actual ability to be immersed in reality as it is. It's scary. (search for some video's to get an impression of what it's like)
I can see a lot of fun and good uses for products like these (like, imagine having apps for recognising edible plants right infront of your eyes while interacting with the world!). Real life, especially as we become more and more overwhelmed and become more and more aware of everything that could have and should have been better or different, will have a hard time competing with the kind of world these types of headsets, especially once the technology develops even further, can offer us.
It's like salt, or sugar, or porn... When the sensory input in one area becomes too strong it's the only thing that feels like it's any good at all, and we loose our ability to appreciate the subtle nuances of a less manipulated, more authentic version of the same thing. All or nothing. Numb. Drugged, hooked.
I believe it's extremely important that we really make sure we train our ability to experience reality as it passes through us, with all our senses and our full attention. Our attention is under attack, the constantly growing economy has little left to colonise, our mind, our thoughts, our attention, is what is left, and with that our freedom to actually experience life itself in addition to our ability to connect with nature, and each other, on a deep enough level to want to protect and preserve and protect it all.
The game
For the past few weeks I've been going to the beach to watch the sunset multiple times a week. We're not all lucky enough to be able to do that, but in the place I live this year I can, so it's one of the main things I prioritise doing. Some days I go alone, some days my children come with me. They are 8 and 12.
I sit and observe, long after the sun has set, how the light is changing, how the colours, nuances, shadows, and reflections transform continuously all around me on all the different surfaces at all the different distances. I've started pointing out these things to my children when they are with me, enthusiastically.
Today I made it into a game.
The game is simple, we take turns in telling each other something we notice that we find beautiful, interesting, cool, or in any way noteworthy.
The person who "loses" is the first one who can't find something to tell the others about that they're observing.
I imagine this game, or exercise, can be transferred to a lot of scenarios, especially anywhere you are outside in nature. It it's too hard to do sitting it can be done walking around looking for things.
I plan on slowly introducing other senses as well, not doing one sense at the time, but that we can share with each other other things we notice, like a breeze, sounds and smells.
My children loved it. I don't think all kids will, at least not right away, and I do think me having shared these kind of observations with them over time has helped prepare them for it. I do think it's worth trying. And it doesn't have to be just a sunset either. I just think it's a very good thing to start with because the changing light and clouds makes it easier to notice a lot of things since you can point out the same things over and over as they are changing.
I thought maybe I would have to pull replies out of them, but instead we were struggling to wait our turn to manage to point out the thing we saw, before it changed again and the moment would be gone.
I invite you to do this for yourself, with friends, and especially with children. I think the ability to observe our world like this is one of the most important skills we can cultivate in ourselves and for our children.
(Tip: If your kids are in any way interested in becoming anything from actors to videogame designers you can point out that to be able to create anything actually observing the world, properly seeing and feeling it, is one of the most important skills you need to have. Children are naturally creative, motivating them by helping them understand that experiencing the world is essential to work creatively can be a good motivator if they need an extra nudge.)
If you try this out, on your own or with other people, please share your experience! Here, or also just share moments on instagram or tiktok (myvisiblemend or evakittelsen)
I've left this post public, so feel free to share it with others too. I believe this matters, more than we understand. If you've read this far you can probably feel that too.
Thank you for caring,
Love, Eva