How does one live the simple, slow, or minimal life while still engaging with the modern world?
I'm acutely aware of the decline of my attention span and ability to focus on one task. It doesn't take much of an imaginative stretch to associate that with tabbed browsing (I think I have 8 open at home right now) and the modern worshiping of multitasking, to say nothing of this little plastic electronic rectangle I keep in my pocket at all times that may as well be chained to my neck for all the power it exerts to control my behavior. I spend a lot of time wondering what it would be like to have my focus and attention back and under control, and whether misplaced blame or not, the mind always goes to these daily distractions.
To this end, I read a lot of blogs on the subject. I find that blogs on minimalism tend to focus on physical belongings more than anything - living with less, buying less, tiny houses, the 1 bag challenge. Occasionally they will touch on the immaterial but not in a way that satisfies. Some people will give up the Internet or television entirely, thinking it a universal time sink. The problem is, I don't see it that way.
I think there's a lot of value in what I get from the Internet, and even from watching television. I just struggle to find a middle point between clicking mindlessly on every headline that catches my eye (which is pretty much every headline) and missing those things that would provide something valuable.
The Internet is aware of this issue. This is why there are so many content aggregate sites like Reddit, Digg, Buzzfeed.
(to be continued? maybe? cuz I got distracted?)
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/oct/29/love-reading-dont-have-time-stop-excuses
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/oct/03/fate-literary-culture-sealed-internet-will-self
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