Spirit in the World

Are We Living in Sensory Overload or Sensory Poverty? – NYTimes.com.

Here’s a piece that speaks to an issue I  think about every day. I find my high school  students very receptive to Ackerman’s message, despite the dismissive comments of some of the young people who responded. They confirm her belief that we are crossing a new threshold of detachment from direct experience. They feel in their bones that something is wrong.

Educators, mentors and coaches have always taught  ‘presence’ to young people in hundreds of ways, in every discipline and activity. Perhaps now, because the stakes are higher, we’ll see a new outpouring of energy and creativity dedicated to teaching awareness. Perhaps that effort will remind educators and adults that the lesson must begin with our own renewed practice.

Photo James Burton