people and places

One of the reasons I chose geography as my degree topic (other than having been so inspired by my amazing geography teachers) was because of my fascination with the relationships between people and places.

Over 20 years on, the world to me at least feels quite different. Our scope for community creation can be less rooted in particular places with the proliferation of the internet.
And yet our interactions with our immediate environs remains influential. Our access to services, our sense of connection with those around us, our privileges, resources and experiences defined so much by the country, region and home into which we are born.

Dislocation from our environment is increasingly possible, sealed in our cars or fast trains, our workspaces, leisure and shopping centres and so insulated from the changing weathers, smells, inhabitants. Eyes drawn to our mobile devices, our location could be irrelevant. I might physically occupy one place but my head and heart are elsewhere, conversing across the ether.

I love the interaction the internet has brought into my life. And yet I also have to work hard to resist its pull, in order to appreciate the right here, right now. I have to remind myself to go outside and place my hand on some grass. Not to be so caught up in catching up with my kids by text that I nearly bump into other folk going through the park. I remember to marvel at the clouds, the blossom, to wind down the window rather than put on the air con. To take off my shoes and really ground myself in where I am. To open my eyes and my heart to everything and everyone that is around me.

I wrote this yesterday in response to one of the prompts from my new writing circle :) I'm glad I did or else today's blog would have been very dull and samey. I'm tired and not yet inspired. I've calculated that my physical time for HUG last week (so not counting all the extra time that things take emotionally!!) was 36 hours so no wonder last week was a squeeze.

Did I mention I was tired? Christian Aid week stuff arrived today but I've not even opened the boxes yet.