The Fall Will Be Painful
February 22, 2025
There is a lot of rage out there. On the road. On hold with customer service. Civility is dwindling. It is no coincidence that we started feeling detached or filled with anger and rage when cell phones became a life changing device. Someone that would barely work to make a phone call can now purchase items. Transfer money to someone else, order food or look up the depths of human wisdom. All in the palm of the hand.
Yet, these devices are stealing us from ourselves. We waste a lot of time around them. Part of the reason I go analog with writing and reading and photography is to use technology less.
Anyway - all of this rage, anger, and dare I say depression comes from the information we consume. It comes from all the news we watch, or the viral posts with some terrible or scary news. Our bodies are keeping the score of all of this.
"The time not spent on learning skills will catch up with you, and the fall will be painful," writes Robert Greene in his book MASTERY. Also the time spent letting rage and anger live inside of you will have a painful fall. So too will be all the news and doomscrolling you do. Time isn't just being wasted. Likely, your life is too and what you can find happiness and fulfillment in.
Put the devices down. Look up. Stop watching the news, it doesn't make you more informed. It actually makes you more sad, depressed, anxious, fearful and angry.