Becoming One

In a world full of metal, concrete and fast-food, I am a huge proponent of keeping in touch with the natural world. Technology, which is useful most of the time, can suck us into a realm devoid of organic experiences that could normally clear our minds and open our senses. If used skillfully, though, technology can take us closer into nature than we ever imagined. Consider Google’s Sky Map: Boy Scouts aren’t the only ones now who can name or identify stars and constellations. Think about vehicles: a 50-mile drive to your favorite camping spot can take less than an hour. And don’t forget the power of customer reviews on the Internet: find out just how difficult that trail is before you find yourself hanging onto a ledge in the middle of nowhere. The fusion of nature and technology can provide a plethora of wonderful experiences in a world full of wonder.
I am a person who simply desires to be at peace with everything around me. If I find myself becoming consumed by a video game or other diversion, sometimes the only things that help are a walk in the rain or a quick hike to catch a sunset. The only problem is I am enjoying the one at the expense of the other. I don’t want to become a curmudgeon who complains about how robots are taking over the world, but I also don’t want to become an asocial geek who only cares about the newest computer program.
There was once a man by the name of Henry David Thoreau who turned his back on civilization in order to test his ability to survive in nature. Though not completely shut off from all contact with other humans, he was relatively alone and he learned a lot about himself and life while he observed nature and enjoyed the silence. In a way, he became one with his surroundings and he experienced a peace that few even know about.
I’ve thought a lot about doing something similar. I would start by gathering up all the tools I would need to build myself a crude cabin. (Remember – I don’t want to completely forsake the boons that technology affords.) Hopefully there is some sort of generator out there that is solar-powered, because I plan on taking my laptop so I can continue writing this column (and play a game every once in a while). Then I’d need a ride up into the mountains, because right now I’m vehicle-less. Maybe my brother would drop me off somewhere in the middle of the Uintahs. I’d pay for gas. Once I settle in and get used to living all by myself in the midst of all that nature, I’d probably think a lot. In order to stave off the extreme boredom that might plague me from time to time, I could take hikes and keep a book in which I write and draw my observations, like Henry. Unlike Henry, though, I want to truly become one with nature. He returned after two years of solitude. I plan on letting a bear eat me. Or lying so long in one place that the vegetation overruns my body. Or hiking to the top of a mountain peak and waiting for lightning to strike me and, with any luck, magically transport me to a different plane of existence. That’s how I imagine my “becoming one” experiment playing out.
Until I actually go through with my plans, I’ll be happy using my GPS device to help me keep from getting lost. There are so many ways to use technology so that we don’t have to be eaten by a bear to feel close to nature. Download an app or search the Internet for programs that will give you a more rewarding experience the next time you decide to brave the wilds. Fuse the worlds of nature and technology and become one with everything around you.