Last Updated on August 26, 2024 by Jan Barley
People tell us to live in the real world, but nonody truly knows what that is
Is the digital world messing our connection to a deeper reality? Yes, I genuinely believe it is.
Older generations connected to the earth by doing physical work. Time spent out in nature, even when it’s hard graft, reaches something deep within us that is impossible to replicate with a laptop.
I’ve been feeling out of sorts for a while, and after a conversation with a friend, I suddenly realised how long my life has revolved around my laptop. As a writer of three years, I cannot do my work without access to technology.
My friend said her ideal world would be days spent rewilding and doing physical work out in the fields. Her insight evoked a guttural reaction. I had to down tools, put the dogs’ collars on, and go for a long walk.
We both used to have horses and spent a lot of time outside. I lost my 36-year-old, Jack, in 2017 after 29 years together, but I decided that was it. Horses are hard work and expensive, but I missed that time when my head was clear of everything except being with my horse.
I’ve long been baffled at our acceptance of working a 40-hour week. Why do we accept this slavery other than to “earn” a living? We weren’t born to grind ourselves into a pulp with only a few measly days to actually “enjoy” time off.
Last year, I found myself in a toxic work environment. Even though I’m a freelance writer, the a-hole manager insisted on my reporting what I planned to do each day and how long it would take. At the close of the day, I then had to report what I’d done and how long it took.
WTAF!!!!!!!
What Happened Next?
Honestly, this micromanagement sucked the life out of me. My clients had always trusted my work, and my writing was a tangible result. I published two articles a week, so there was no need to question what I did or didn’t do. My results were tangible, but that didn’t matter to this *ickhead.
I worked 2.5 days a week. It’s hard to imagine putting up with this treatment for 40 hours a week. But people do. They hate their jobs and long for Friday afternoon.
After leaving, it took me six months to recover from the burnout. Being in a hypervigilant state for four months, I was exhausted. I was also client-shy and no longer wanted to pitch my work. I couldn’t face EVER being in that situation again. Thankfully, I have a few clients who leave me alone to do my job, never question what I do and respect my work. However, this horrible experience led me to digital marketing.
I walked the dogs for an hour this afternoon, pondering what my friend said. How about if we’re all stressed, anxious and exhausted because the reality that we accept as the norm is slowly destroying us? How can we ever return to a physical reality that makes us feel wholesome and alive?
Will Robots Pay Us Not To Work?
The truth is, I don’t think we can go back.
The exponential growth of artificial intelligence (AI) is unlikely to slow down, and “they” may eventually replace us in the workplace, or at least partly. What would our lives be like then? The experts suggest that AI would create trillions of dollars so humans would get a living wage and not have to work.
I hear you. Jan, that’s a freaking dream. Stop knocking it!
It’s not, though. Humans thrive when they have a purpose but turn inwards when there seems little point in life. I’ve seen this lack of structure cause havoc with teenagers from wealthy families. They don’t have a purpose. Mummy and Daddy pay for everything. The kids don’t have to struggle.
What’s the problem with that?
The struggle is what makes us grow. Overcoming obstacles is what makes us feel fulfilled and alive.
We strive to achieve. We enjoy competition and the connection it brings with others.
Back To Reality
The “thing” you think is “reality” is an artificial construction built with flimsy cardboard. This reality suits the government. They need the people to behave, be compliant and NOT rebel.
Society teaches us from an early age to sit at a desk and do as we’re told. That never sat well with me. I always felt like a cuckoo in the nest and questioned everything. In 1995, I left the corporate world and became self-employed. I have never worked more than 25 hours a week since.
Underneath the construction are sub-layers that keep society propped up. Retirement age keeps going up. In the UK, they are aiming for 71! WTF? As many people die in their late sixties, the government saves a fortune from not having to pay the deceased. They’ll waste it, of course.
When they raised women’s retirement age from sixty to sixty-six, the UK government made £200 billion. Where the **ck did that money go?
Sorry. I went off on a tangent, but it’s all relevant.
Here’s How To Reconnect
My message to you is, “Don’t be an ostrich“. You can pretend the world is perfectly OK as it is and reality serves us, but it does not. It slowly sucks the life out of you until your retire and die, wondering where the **ck your life went.
Society discourages entrepreneurs, even though they bring wealth into a country. We should all be entrepreneurs. There is no reason we cannot do it because we all have the capability. Still, we just don’t believe we have what it takes.
Why is that?
Come on, keep up.
Sit behind a desk when you’re five and stay there until you’re almost an adult. Learn to add up and pass exams and accrue ridiculous student debt. Learn **ck all about managing finances and leveraging compound interest. And let’s not talk about passive income because it doesn’t exist, right? Well, it does, so <<shrug>>
Never believe that you cannot change your life. You don’t need to get stuck in this dark hole of existence. Decide that you want something more, something better. Even if you don’t know what that is, hold the thought and watch for opportunities.
That’s what I did. That’s what I am doing. I found a direction. I’ve been scared to follow it because it is so much bigger than what I’m used to. However, thanks to my friend’s insight, I recognised my limiting thoughts and can now push through to the next stage.
