Connections

  I've been thinking about how connections to one another  and even to memories, create  community. I have been talking to some who don't have much community , and seem to have problems with depression. Humans are social beings.

For much of human historyOur ancestors lived in groups. They lived in family groups and tribal groups. Eventually they moved to cities and formed small groups within the cities.   

As wonderful as modern technology is, it has a many ways fractured us from one another. I know of a wonderful woman who has now created her life around television, not around actual people. She resents all interruptions from others. I know of young people who would rather play video games, than go outside and play with neighborhood children.       

I have said to some people that this world is like an alien planet compared to the 1940 world I was born into. I think I could extend that to say that, to the vast majority of all humanity that has ever lived on this planet, this current time is an alien planet. 

It occurs to me that a useful question we might ask ourselves is - How do we enjoy and utilize these marvelous technologies, and stay in connection to other actual humans? How do we retain our humanity?