On a long drive recently the idea floated itself to list timeless and ancient activities, doings that constitute deep down humanness, yet now may be threatened by convenience, sedentary habits, commodification, voueyerism, living through celebrities, overspecialization, and other boons of progress.
Without overthinking it I let reel the first things that popped into my head. My main criteria were: -They had to be skills (not qualities)… -Activites I currently do or have engaged in…-They need to be important enough to feel compelled to share this know-how with my offspring…-They need to have been done by people (and/or animals) for millenia.
In other words, parts of life that once were vital, central, yet now feel either marginalized, threatened, or vanishing. Raises the question of what really makes a human being human? This is what goes into my personal atavistic safe depost box. What’s on your list?
build fire
snuggle
perambulate
swim
catch fish
shoot arrow
tie knot
fry egg
change tire
sew button
read
ride
second language
Making lists
Lise and I sometimes joke about our “lost skills” hobbies. You know, things people did regularly a few decades ago.
Here are some on my list:
building something – using tools to make something easily bought
hand drawn animation – drawing 30 pictures for a second of motion
knot tying – to secure things without special straps
baking – to be able to make any dessert
sewing – to fix a hole, or make something new
socializing – nightly hangouts with friends?
volunteering and community spirit – to be able to rally a crowd to positive action
repairing things – fixing something rather than buying a new one
I’m kind of amazed at the number of people who don’t know how to make a fire. I’ve seen some creative attempts. I was taught a number of ways to do it.
I’m reading a book (another for the list?) from the 1980’s, just prior to the personal computer, which is a collection of essays about the mind and machines, and where we should draw the line. The essays are varied, but much of the discussion so far has been about defining the issue. What is thinking?
Last night’s essay was about a king who loved experiences, but was rapidly losing his rotting body. Scientists offer to keep the brain alive in a bath that can, given proper programming, simulate any and all experiences. The king agrees.
It all goes well for while, but then someone slips and accidentally splits the brain in two. Rather than repir the two halves, each half gets cared for on its own by an ever expanding team of scientists. The experiences go on for the king.
This goes on, with more dividing, until indiviudal scientists are assigned to the care of individual neurons. And then they let their own neuorns fill in for other neurons in other people.
What is a person? What is an experience? Is it more than a collection of neurons being fired?
Maybe Dogen is right. Just sit. An experience-less experience!
The Grandaddy
Story telling, No? Was this not how culture was transmitted throughout most of human existence? I dare say, Spinoza, this fits your criterion of “Activites I currently do or have engaged in…”
Others:
Playing an instrument
Farming/gardening
Bartering/trading
War skills
Midwifery
Studying nature, whether it’s weather patterns or plant behavior. This may be the Grandma
Astral projection, or, more appropriately, Shamanism
Your posts are always so
Your posts are always so thought provoking, spinoza. This is an interesting one in this world of excessive busyness and uber convenience. The things that I am most aware of not doing anymore are: long, leisurely phone calls with friends that you haven’t talked to for awhile; making stock from scratch ( sometimes I do but usually not); baking bread; ironing clothes ( something I actually used to love doing); spontaneous get togethers with friends; reading books that surpass 500 pages ( I used to revel in taking on a book of mammoth proportions – the sheer heft of it was so satisfying). I’m sure there are more although I will say that since moving to Brattleboro from a very hectic, over worked and noisy life in Boston I have once again gone back to doing some of the activities I enjoy; quilting; board games; long soup making days.
Having my curious and life loving grandson nearby allows me to slip back into some of the activities I considered :time wasters” for far too many years.
waiting
This is one of those things that you need to think about for a while.
One I’d like to add isn’t so much a skill (well, maybe it is) as it is just something we used to do: waiting patiently for something for an extended period.
This occurred to me while thinking about the death of Saturday morning TV for kids. Now, kids find what they want online, anytime, and can watch sugary-sweet brain candy all day and all night. Not so long ago, media was segregated by age, and waiting for Saturday morning cartoons, fun shows, and our sugary sweet input was part of the ritual. Once the episode of Sigmund and the Sea Monsters or Wonderama (hi New Yorkers!) was over, it couldn’t be seen for another week.
To make a wish list for Santa, we now log on and check off boxes at any time of year. Not so long ago one would wait for a printed book from the Sears company to arrive in early autumn, then months would be spent studying and comparing the possibilities. A doll house? A drum set? Games? Costumes?
Being able to be uninterrupted for an extended period is now almost unheard of. Something beeps or vibrates and communication is continual.
When do we still have to wait? It depends if we have people to do these things for us, but let’s assume we don’t: In lines while buying things, or getting money to buy things. While assembling into a theater or stadium. While anticipating the arrival of a celebrity of some sort. To save up for something we’d like can take time. While traveling a great distance.
The arrival of the Sears Wish
The arrival of the Sears Wish Book was a celebrated event in our house when I was raising my kids. All of them would look at it together at first and then each kid had a whole day when they had it all to themselves to peruse and mark off pages to their hearts delight. So many kids ( and adults) see something they want and SHAZZAM! They get it. I remember with great fondness saving up for special toys as a kid. Sometimes it took months but it was such a feeling of pride and accomplishment when I finally got to buy that long coveted item.
Anticipation
We used to put initials by everything we liked, so Santa would have some help. Not sure I ever got anything I marked, but it was a yearly ritual.
Built in to the process of saving up is a process of contemplation – is this what I really want or need? Instant gratification takes away the thought, but we can have almost anything immediately.
calming Nervous
I’ve enjoyed reading these comments. Thanks for sharing. This idea keeps percolating for me..
I was in Everyone Books recently, and saw by the counter little handbooks by Thich Nhat Hanh, How to Eat, How to Relax, How to Walk..Don’t know how they sell, but it speaks to our need to amplify the basics.
Adding these to my list of keepers..Time on the ground stretching, sitting…Humming… Carrying a tune..