Happy New Year!
As we begin 2023 and consider what we want for the year ahead, things at the top of many lists are more kindness, generosity, peace and health, along with less division, resentment, anger and illness. Given the times we are living in there is little wonder those are widely held sentiments. So, how do we help create the conditions for which we are hoping?
Zach Bush, MD, an interesting doctor/thinker/inspirational teacher, caught my attention with this quote, “Cancer doesn't start with a genetic injury. It starts with disconnect from the larger community of cells. The origin of cancer is the loneliness of an isolated cell.” I do not mean to suggest that this is the whole story in regards to cancer, but I find it a fascinating perspective. I mention it because the idea that disconnection can cause trouble, even on a cellular level, rings true and reflects what we know about disconnection on an individual and societal level, as well as in ecosystems or any other complex system.
If anything defines our times more than the trend towards isolation and disconnection, I don’t know what it is. The reasons for this trend are many, and though the internet and social media hold the promise of increased connection, in practice the opposite seems to be the case. Even things like Zoom, Facetime, and telemedicine visits, while offering some tremendous opportunities, are a far cry from the experience of actually being in the presence of others.
To go one step further, many of us spend more time looking at a screen than looking at anything else. There is little doubt in my mind that less screen time, and more interactions with other people and the rest of the analog world would be benefit general health and happiness.
Likely we all know this intuitively, and even so the trend is in the opposite direction.
In a recent long power outage, many of us were forced to get off our screens, leading to a lot of analog time. What was noticeable, despite the challenges the power outage posed, was how many people felt better. Neighbors helping neighbors, people getting outside more, connecting to nature and to others, time spent reading a book or writing on actual paper! Those kinds of things foster connection to self and others, and so clearly lead to things like increased kindness, generosity, creativity and feelings of satisfaction. When we are in community and connection we tend to thrive, individually and collectively.
This points to one of the keys to a better 2023 and beyond.
We would do well to escape the digital world more and reverse the trend of ever more screen time and involvement with electronics. One path leads us towards disconnection, the other towards interconnection and the beautiful world at the top of many 2023 wish lists.
Happy new year, indeed!
