Recently, I read a piece in a leading newspaper about the fading of adult friendships. Written by Pranav Jain, it was a deeply moving and insightful reflection on what is happening to so many of us — and why.
I understand that the world is changing, and change is often necessary, even beneficial. Yet somewhere along the way, it feels as though with every technological milestone we conquer, we diminish emotionally…
On the surface, everyone appears connected — through phones, emails, texts, discussing news but beneath that illusion of constant connectivity, we have drifted. We are all fragmented, distracted, preoccupied, and I hate to say it but emotionally unavailable.
If your life is going out of control, will someone from your inner circle be able to notice your sithdrawl, your silence without you articulating your suffering?
To be honest, I’m no longer sure.
The isolation imposed on us during the pandemic, has slowly transformed into habit. We nurse our wounds in private while raising a toast in public.
We have skillfully mastered the art of shutting down. We don’t express, don’t trust, don’t share our lives, no matter how acute our suffering…Somehow, it is never the right time, the right place or mood to be transparent, to display our fears and so we remain entangled in the digital world, disconnected with reality.
On the surface super smart but eroded and hollow from within. We gorgot that the most cheerful emojis in our inbox could not replace a human voice, touch, presence!
I have the courage to admit to an aching vacuum, do you too?