If I were to create a self-help program, I would name it "Relearning the Simple Things." The first fundamental lesson? Reconnecting with our senses.
In our fast-paced digital age filled with ads, videos, movies, binge-watching, endless Facebook scrolling, and YouTube marathons, we often overlook this side effect: we’ve become visually imprisoned.
It's not that these digital experiences are inherently negative. However, when taken to extremes, they can limit our sensory experiences, confining us to the visual realm. This is why I maintain a degree of skepticism towards the spectacle of virtual realities and meta-universes, which, despite their immersive qualities, remain predominantly focused on vision.
This happens because we tend to overlook the incredible potential of our own bodies. In this paradoxical era, we’re told when and how to sleep, walk, and even schedule moments for simple existence; we must be reminded even how to breathe (like in mindfulness) or be convinced of the importance of savoring (read about Savoring Walk or listen to this podcast episode). So, in this age, it’s no wonder that we need something else to remind us to engage our other senses, too.
Let’s begin with hearing. When was the last time you truly listened? Unless you attend concerts or play music from your playlist, chances are you rarely take time to listen. The soft patter of water in the shower, leaves rustling in the wind, crickets singing on a warm summer night, the daily cheerful chirping of birds, or the gentle breath of your loved one sleeping beside you – all these sounds exist around us. And then, there's even the sound of silence, though it seems contradictory. But we can hear the faint wheezing and buzzing in our ears when all else is quiet. It’s that persistent, twisted "Aaaaaa" that serves as the subtle soundtrack of our lives. Can you hear it now?
So, here's your next challenge: to listen and truly hear. What are the sounds in your life that you’ve long forgotten or taken for granted?
I will finish with another confession. While writing or working, most of the time, I’m listening to indie/folk/alternative playlists; from alexrainbirdMusic or Indie Folk Central.
This is how I discovered Hollow Coves, Seafret, SYML, and others. Now, if you’re my generation, you know there was a time when we talked about being “emo,” and this preference of mine might reside there. But this is not all, I also enjoy trance, electronic music, deep house remixes like this one here, or the chill sounds of Tycho and Eikona.
What are some of the songs that inspire you?
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