Experiences of The Eyes

Technology has made a direct, negative impact on our experience of nature. Over the years we have made great advancements in technology that have their benefits, but they also ruin how we view the natural world and what we do within it. Before I dive into this topic, let me propose a few questions that I would like you to think about. How often do you go outside just for the sake of being outside? Why do you have a phone? What would you do to fill up your day if televisions and computers did not exist? Keep these in mind as you continue reading. 

There is no better setting for this topic than Mt. Monadnock. Of the few times I have hiked this mountain, I have never had my phone out as I made my way up, and as I trekked down. Why? Well, for one, I would probably fall and get seriously injured. Mostly, however, because I can better enjoy the beauty of the mountain through my own eyes than a screen. When I reach the summit, I often take out my phone to take pictures. This is something that I will work on next time that I go. If you think about it, pictures can capture some of the beauty, but it cannot capture the whole experience from head to toe. A camera cannot recreate the wind as it brushes your skin, or the shifting of your sight from the rock of the summit to the trees and city below and then to the sky. It is just not possible to capture the whole experience of being on the summit.

We view the natural world as a place for our own desire and benefit, not as a being in itself. There are many opinions in that the Earth has its own energy flowing throughout its roots, and as intelligent living beings we should know to pay more attention to the actual Earth that we live on. There is a possibility that this energy can be felt by every human being, I just find that technology has hindered our ability to do so. How can we build this connection with the land if we never go outside because of the latest Netflix original series, or because of the work we have to type up on our computers? We need to recognize that technology is going to get more advanced and the Earth is going to get more sick. It is our duty to create a better relationship with the Earth before it is too late, because in the end there will be no need for technology if there is not a planet for it to exist on.