a problem with perfection.

..

Hilarious. Though it got me thinking... would we really ever appreciate
perfection if we achieved it? Of course the natural answer is that
perfection is unattainable, much like happiness- the fact that we are
where we are technologically shows that humans are never completely
satisfied with their position in life and constantly seek progress. We
seek happiness through furthering ourselves, our lives, inventing
extensions of our being, increasing communication, and thousands of
other ways.

There seems to be a chasm developing between the generally accepted
idea of progression and the happiness experienced as a result. I think
our technology has had the opposite effect we'd all secretly hoped, I
think we have moved too far away from the basics of living.

It all seems to have started with written language and the ability to
address everything in the abstract- common everyday items are referred
to as a word that represents what they are, not simply described as in
oral cultures. For example, to say "the plate is round" seems obvious,
but... what is "round"? What is a "plate"? It all starts there, the way
I see it- a divide between the way things are and the way we experience
them.

This disconnection flows throughout all of our lives in the Western
world. Our technology (not only computers and electronic gadgets, but
the technology that brings us prepared foods, meat in polystyrene
trays, fresh blueberries in January, etc.) has created a bubble,
removed from the basics of survival, disguised as living. This seems to
explain why so many people are often bored. I doubt there was much time
for boredom when you had to collect fresh water from the river or lake,
hunt your dinner, shell peas, husk corn after harvesting it, and so
forth.

We seem to view the essentials of life from our observatory, only
partaking when we choose to do so or when forced. This topic came up at
the cottage this summer quite often. It's on an island and off the
grid. There's always something to do there- collect wood, fixing the
dock, sweeping, etc. During the cold days it was even more focused
towards a schedule of when the sun would set, when to be back so we
could have daylight to collect firewood, start building the fire early,
and keep it going. I just thought it was so fascinating to be immersed
in the basics of survival and not feel an ounce of boredom. It wasn't a
pain in the ass, it wasn't boring, it was essential so I didn't even
think about it.

That is what we're missing- there's a deep-rooted desire to feel the
heartbeat of the earth. After all, we are still just animals with a
base instinct for survival. Our technology has separated us from our
natural selves. Instead of doing essential tasks, we mostly fill our
lives with distractions (or they are filled for us, it's not always a
choice) to pass the time, and have grown to love those distractions.

So, in conclusion, it only seems natural that we cannot appreciate the
"amazing" times we live in because it is the result of moving closer to
what we think is perfection. Progress is a double-edged sword when it
comes to humanity because we are conscious beings. Even though we may
not know exactly what is missing in our lives, we sense that there is
something missing... and in the process, complain about little things
hoping to hit the nail on the head.

But that's just my opinion...