I OPEN my writing pad. I write a two-page long letter with my ink pen. I sign it and stamp it. I seal it in an envelope. I ring the little bell on my table. The secretary comes in.

"Give this to the messenger boy and tell him to deliver it to Mr. Ahmad today."

The secretary takes the envelope and that was it. The next day, the secretary walks into the office and hands over an envelope from Mr. Ahmad. It was a response to my letter. He requests a meeting later that week. So I send him a small note through the messenger and arrange for a suitable time to meet him. The documents were exchanged so important business communication could be filed, and it was.

In my office, I have an accountant who makes invoices, cost estimates, tracking sheets and manages all financial activity. We have no computers. Everything is handwritten. We have lots of files and a filing system.

Things are slow. Pressure is less. I get more time for myself. I get time to pray peacefully and anticipate. Life is not moving so fast, but it is fun. I walk. I meet people on the street. I have coffee with friends. I have my privacy. I have time to observe the beauty of nature, because people give attention to it. We depend on our senses to experience this realm we live in.

Outside, we have a few vehicles, but mainly horse carts. I ride my horse if I have to go far, and take the horse cart if I go with family. No pollution.

Our homes are cool in summer and warm in winter. We use lots of lamps and candles. There is some electricity, but we don't use it a lot. We have no TVs. We get entertained by meeting relatives, going to the theatre and walking around parks and beautiful lanes. We discuss the Qur’an and the wisdoms of the elders. We imagine. We visualize. We feel energized. Our senses are strong. Our eyes are sharp. We wake up at sunrise and work till just before sunset.

Yes, it sounds good…

In imagination.

•••

What happened to us?

Why are we so keen on information that does not benefit us?

Why do we need CONSTANT communication and so many windows to look through?

Why do we need all that we have today?

Why do we call this progress?!

This, my friends, is not really progress. This is a problem.

Everything we hear and see, affects us. We are constantly bombarded with information. Whether we like it or not, consciously or unconsciously, we respond and react. Our health and minds do get affected. We get influenced.

Here is a fact: The more people you know, the more issues you may have. The more people know you, the more famous you are. The more famous you are, the more people want to access you, and technology allows them to invade your privacy. This whole drama of easy access, tracing and being “available” is a key factor in raising your stress levels. Stress is the number one killer and destroyer of health. Technology is complicating life, not simplifying it. And simplicity is the key to a healthy life.

Today, we all agree that time is passing by so quickly. It is not, in fact. It is moving at the same pace as it was moving 100 years ago. We force things to happen quickly and at weird times. We are always online and connected to millions of people and trillions of images and words. We don't even notice sunrise and sunset. We do not interact on personal levels, but we talk to tens of people without looking at them. I do not see my own neighbor much. We are connected but absolutely disconnected. We are far away from those close to us and very close to those that are far, far away. And, above all of this, we are in a HURRY. What for? Why is everyone in such a hurry? Why do we need to get everything done so fast? Why must we KILL time?

In the past, 50 years of life was a lifetime. Today, a hundred years is a day!

If you go back to the first part of this article, you will notice that I sent a letter through a messenger boy. That’s employment. Instead of computer intelligence, I am using human intelligence. Everyone in society would be busy if I did not have a cell phone!

We want speed. Why? Why do we want life to pass by so quickly? The need for QUICK action is a result of our materialistic society. And materialism has failed miserably. There are way too many casualties. I could write volumes about the damages it has caused.

This could have been in great detail, but I leave it to your mind to imagine a life with less technology and more NATURE. We no longer discover moments. We don't even notice them passing by…