Things I Learned Living Without Technology for a Year

I'm not usually impressed with revelational experiences like this -- I offer a tidbit to anyone who is struck by this. If you need to power off for an extended period in order to form connections with nature and people, to feel "real" emotions, or to feel like life is fulfilling, you should take that to heart. This experience affected you specifically, do not assume it will have the same effect on others. Your relationship with technology is just as much of a problem as the power off is a solution. This can be true whether or not you're culpable in this relationship -- sometimes we are trapped by circumstances! Use a power off as your tool and not a status symbol. Acknowledge that the same feelings you feel from cutting off are felt by others plugging in.

A good indicator of this is point 5, "Real Connections Are Formed Face-to-Face". Have you cried during a movie or TV show? Laughed out loud at a book? Did you recognize someone in the wild that you had only previously seen on a screen? If you feel some kind of emotion in a non-face-to-face situation it's still real! Do not dismiss this emotion, learn to revel in it -- just as we strive to do when we experience emotions throughout all of our human interactions. When someone tells you they only experience a connection face-to-face you should be skeptical of their claims or warned that they are not sincere. Since the days of civilization to civilization communication humans have made asynchronous remote connections that have kept societies at peace, yet this individual doesn't respond to that (or is trying to sell you an expensive stay at a farm with no electricity).

Idyllic lifestyle is uncomfortable and can be very lonely for some. We're in a trend where "return to nature" behavior can be graded positively on a hierarchy, so I felt compelled to provide this disclaimer.