I divorce myself!

The effects of progress

In today's world, we are experiencing significant advancements in various fields, largely due to technological development. We now have the convenience of writing using keyboards or dictation. We shop with a click, and with our voice, we can turn on the lights in the room. In fact, we often don't have to physically move to work, socialise, learn and entertain ourselves. We can visit places and have wonderful experiences simply by wearing virtual reality glasses from the comfort of our own bedroom.

We don't even have to think that much now. Artificial intelligence applications can write, research and formulate ideas and thoughts for us.

We don't even need to cook every day! Just turn on the microwave, and voila, the food is ready! And it seems like soon we may not need animals and vegetables, thanks to synthetic meat created in the lab. Perhaps progress will lead us to a pill that replaces an entire meal. And women, and apparently men too, will no longer have to face those long, worrying, and hormonally complex nine months of pregnancy, as artificial wombs will procreate for us.

In the eyes of many, this is progress: the evolution of man and his intelligence. But what is progress for? Perhaps to bring us more convenience, more speed, more problem-solving, more knowledge, more connections, less repetitive and boring work.

But what if the purpose is to experience hardship, slow down, be patient, and face challenges and difficulties in order to learn and train ourselves to solve problems?

What if the goal is not only to acquire external knowledge from books and teachings of people but also to develop an inner knowledge more connected to a divine intelligence?

What if the point is precisely to deal with the discomfort that boredom brings, to develop imagination, creativity and intuition?

It seems that this so-called 'progress' only makes us lazier, more superficial and ill.

What if progress is nothing more than a divorce from nature, from a higher divine intelligence, and from our true essence?

I do not mean, for example in the case of technology, that we should get rid of it, but rather focus on how and why we use it.

Maybe the purpose of being on Earth is precisely to grow and learn through physical hard work, but also emotional, mental and spiritual challenges to become stronger, more balanced and live a more fulfilling and meaningful life.

Perhaps the point is not just reaching the destination or enjoying the journey itself, although important. Perhaps the point is that we can develop our character, discover who we are, find motivation, learn about ourselves and become strong people during the journey.

I believe that as living beings, we are an integral part of nature, along with plants and animals. However, in our relentless pursuit of 'progress', we are increasingly detaching ourselves from our essence, leading to physical, emotional, mental and spiritual consequences.

Take a look at the majority of young people and adults today, particularly in so-called 'advanced' countries. Many are frequently unwell and spend much of their free time (and not only) in front of social media, TV series, YouTube videos, and video games, becoming addicted zombies. Many suffer from anxiety and depression, and the number of young people engaging in self-harm or attempting suicide is rising. So many children do not know where butter comes from; they do not know how to climb trees. They spend zero to a couple of hours a week outdoors, and many aspire to become influencers or Youtubers when they grow up.

Divorcing ourselves from nature, our essential teacher, comes at a significant cost. It takes very little effort to experience the benefits nature offers, whether it's taking a walk or simply walking barefoot on the grass. Being in nature, working the land, sowing seeds, harvesting fruits, caring for animals, and building or creating our own things, all activate our innate need to move and use our hands. Our bodies are meant to be in motion, as the saying goes, "use it or lose it." Movement gives our bodies purpose and contributes to emotional and mental harmony.

Spending time in nature also helps us become more aware of our surroundings and the divine intelligence in which everything has meaning and purpose. Nature teaches us its rhythms, which become our own and help us to listen to what we really need. It teaches us patience and the rewards it brings.

In nature we appreciate silence, because it is in silence that we can observe, reflect, and listen to our intuition. We can rediscover the beauty of solitude and being at peace with ourselves. Nature heals and nourishes us.

This is why I think that 'progress' is more of a regression, a moving away from what is essential: ourselves.

Only when we become aware that a relationship is no longer working, that we decide to see and then act, does divorce become an urgency. It is certainly a painful process, but a necessary one to make us realise what we have lost, to make us reflect on what really matters.

And so, just as a divorce marks the end of a chapter, it can also represent the beginning of something new, more authentic and conscious. It can be a personal rebirth, a new love, in this case for nature and ourselves, to create a richer society, humanly and spiritually, a society that can truly grow and prosper in harmony with its true nature.