Far from the madding crowd

Far from the madding crowd

In today’s digitally connected world there is hardly any part of the world that we feel are out of touch. Updating statuses is just a part of our digital natives’ lives just like brushing their teeth. For digital immigrants like us we also feel a sense of belonging when we are somewhat ‘Connected’. It is not a matter of choice any longer, it is a matter of need now. Willingly or unwillingly we are to adopt the ways of the world.

Being a digital immigrant, I survive and thrive on the internet despite claiming that I am not addicted. When we all decided to get away for the weekend, the last minute plans ended up in the beautiful dales and hills of the Kentmere village in Cumbria, north of England. As we enjoyed the serenity and calmness of the dales, the melodious twittering & chirping of the birds, the sight of the little soft white lambs, we still noticed the dropping phone and internet signals. We pacified ourselves thinking if the Tanzanian safaris, the great barrier reef and the atlantic skies are connected, it seems odd that any place in UK would be living away from the world.

Reaching the valley, the first thing we all looked for was the ‘Wi Fi’, that’s how our brains function now. I went next door to ask and the man simply answered, ‘We don’t have internet or mobile phone connections, you have to climb the top of the hill or drive back to the centre, to get connected.’ His face and body language depicted tranquility and his laid back attitude was fully in tune with his surroundings.  

The youngsters all panicked, they were more worried about connecting to their friends than being joyful about being connected to nature. As half of my brain quickly thought about how will my office contact me, the better half told me it is a blessing in disguise as I will have an abundance of time to absorb the sights and smells of the natural beauty that we usually fail to understand.

We all went up the hill, most with the intention of ‘connecting’ and a few to see the valley from the top. Sitting at the top I did think that the dozen or so households living in the valley must be knowing what they are missing, there would definitely be a reason of them staying away from the madding crowd.

Life sometimes gets so rushed that we hardly get time to think calmly, everything we think and do is digital. The truth is if I knew that the cottage we are renting will not be connected, I would not have given it a second thought but I do believe that blessings do come in disguises. The weekend together with our digital children was spent playing board games and bonding without any worries of checking our phones every now and then. It taught us to switch off, limit the addiction and condition our brains to think independently.

We are digitally connected but physically and spiritually disconnected from nature. Given the choice would I suggest living away from the Madding crowd- definitely a yes, for at least a week once a year to refresh and enlighten our brains and souls.

Seven days, part time disconnection, far away from the madding crowd, relieved to get back to the real world but mentally and spiritually refreshed.

Beatrix Potter stated, “One place suits one person, another place suits another person.”

I long for the tranquil world of Beatrix Potter & Wordsworth but can't stay away from the madding crowd.