Longing for the Woods? | Ladies of Hive #81

Ladies of Hive contests are something I wish I'd get around to doing more often, as I thoroughly enjoy reading the themes, and entries. But then, there's work, there's the shit already in my mind, and let's just say, I very rarely get around to doing them. But this week's question, in particular, caught my eye, so here goes.

This week, the Ladies of Hive community wanted to know:

And that's actually something I've given a fair bit of thought to, on my own, because I don't think it's a simple question, at all. In spite of our tendency to view the past through rose-tinted glasses, I don't think the past was nearly as delectable as we like to think.

I often fall prey myself to daydreams of simplicity, and rural comfort. I'm constantly thinking how I'd like to move to the woods, and just disconnect from technology, from society. Wishing against this compulsion to take my phone with me wherever I go. Against the obsessive need to scroll through conversations while conversing with someone else. If you think about it, we're living in a terrible age of disconnect, where our social interactions are diluted by endless technological distractions. Where you can't speak to someone face to face, because they're in a conversation with someone from across the fucking ocean, and really need to check those IG reels one more time.

and yet...

Because I do believe there is an "and yet" to this story. I think only taking these negative aspects of our modern world is as one-sided and inconclusive as expecting that the past is this lovely, picturesque psychedelic trip. 'Cause it's not.

First, a word on the past - while it's tempting to say "oh, life was simple and happy then", that's not really the case, is it? If I try to think of myself a few hundred years ago, at 23, I'd already be on my third or fourth kid, most likely. If I'd survived the previous births, that is. I would either be forced to labor long hours, or isolated inside a remote house, with a husband someone else had picked for me. My literary aspirations, most likely gone out the window, as well, because who has time for that? And who'd want women writing, anyway?

By this, I'm not trying to suggest that the past was this horrible, oppressive world. It did have its good sides. But we're sometimes too keen to forget the bad.

Also, a word on the present. Despite our technological dependency, and our disconnect from others, and our constant misery, the world is in a really great place right now, for several reasons. At the risk of sounding cliche, we've got access to all the information in the world (or a significant enough chunk) from the comfort of our own beds. Soon enough, our own minds. We've got medicine that can kill, but that can also save and stop many diseases.

In my position, I can pursue my literary career (and don't even get me started on the myriad of writing opportunities that wouldn't have existed fifty years ago, let alone 300), and a family. I think a lot of women are getting tricked right now into choosing, and sure, that's lamentable. But no one said it was gonna be easy. I think we need to learn to take the good with the bad, because otherwise, we'd never move forward.

Personally, I don't think I'd like the simple life of the past. Sometimes, sure. There are moments when I wish for nothing else than a bit of quiet in nature. Though even then, I like my Spotify close by. It helps me think, sometimes. And I like that. Besides, I like the adventure, the thrill of city-living, the nightlife, far too much to let it go.

In the end, I think the modern techy world allows me to be who I am, as a person, as a writer. It gives me my job, some of my closest friends, and my music (and I couldn't imagine life without that). So I guess it's present day for me, ladies.

But what do you guys think?

I long for the woods,
From this place, I'll disappear

Also, as per contest rules, I'd like to invite my mom @ladyrebecca to the Ladies of Hive community <3