Reclaiming Our Humanity in the Digital Age
We live in an age of extraordinary progress.
Never before has humanity had such access to knowledge, technology, creativity, and convenience. We can communicate instantly, automate complex tasks, and entertain ourselves endlessly. And yet—something feels off.
In the race to advance, we may be quietly losing touch with what makes us human.
Instead of becoming more capable, many of us are becoming more dependent. Instead of thinking deeper, we scroll faster. Instead of connecting meaningfully, we substitute presence with pixels.
What I’ve Seen on the Ground
For over two decades, I’ve worked closely with schools. Over the last ten years especially, a troubling pattern has emerged:
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declining creativity
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poor conflict resolution
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emotional fragility
Educators are alarmed—and rightly so.
Children are increasingly uncomfortable with boredom, struggle to think independently, and often lack resilience when faced with challenge. One major contributor is impossible to ignore: constant digital stimulation.
Smart devices, social media, and influencer-driven entertainment have reshaped childhood. Instead of learning through exploration, failure, and play, many young minds are trained to consume, react, and swipe.
Perhaps the most unsettling example I’ve heard recently is this:
Some children turn to Google Assistant or AI chat tools for companionship when they feel lonely or bored.
Let that sink in.
When technology becomes a substitute for relationship, reflection, and real-world engagement, we are no longer using tools—we are being shaped by them.
The Cost of Convenience
Psychology backs this up.
Modern research shows that excessive screen time is linked to:
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weakened executive functioning (planning, reasoning, self-control)
The brain, like the body, adapts to its environment. When everything is instant, curated, and algorithm-driven, the muscles for patience, creativity, and deep thinking begin to atrophy.
We don’t become stronger by removing friction—we become stronger by learning to move through it.
Maybe the Old Ways Were Onto Something
Remember the idea of sending kids to a bush camp to “toughen them up”?
No, I’m not suggesting we abandon modern life, electricity, or running water. This isn’t about rejecting progress—it’s about restoring balance.
What if we intentionally stepped away from our screens—regularly?
Not as punishment.
As practice.
Imagine:
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reading a physical book, slowly and without distraction
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planting something and waiting for it to grow
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sitting around a table playing a board game
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having a conversation with no phones present
These activities may look simple—even outdated—but they activate something powerful: presence.
The Science of Being Human
Here’s the beautiful part: science confirms what wisdom has always known.
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Time in nature lowers cortisol, improves mood, and boosts creativity
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Reading strengthens empathy and cognitive depth
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Gardening improves mental health and patience
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Board games build social intelligence, strategic thinking, and cooperation
These aren’t nostalgic hobbies.
They are human training grounds.
Becoming Maverick Means Choosing Humanity
The Maverick path has never been about rejecting the world—it’s about refusing to lose yourself in it.
Reclaiming our humanity is not a dramatic revolution.
It’s a series of intentional, everyday choices.
Put the phone down.
Let boredom do its work.
Create instead of consume.
Engage instead of escape.
Technology should serve humanity—not replace it.
As we continue the journey of Becoming Maverick, let’s resist the quiet erosion of our humanity and choose practices that reconnect us to who we really are.
Progress without presence is not progress at all.
