As you may know, the whole family mob just spent about 2 weeks in Ireland. The oldest grandson flew over from Spain to join us. He’s been teaching English in a small Spanish town for the last year, and now he’s doing some 30 day walk in Spain. Apparently a famous walk, but not famous enough that I’d have heard of it. So he and I were sitting and drinking Irish Whiskey (Red Breast, though we prefer Tullamore Dew) and talking, when he said something very interesting. He can’t get internet service on most of the walk, so he said that he’s doing a lot of thinking instead. He said that the time spent thinking has been very valuable, and that he was surprised that a lot of the issues that he needed to deal with have now been considered and decided and that he’s now ready to move forward on them. It was the most mature conversation I’ve ever had with him.

So...my point here is that if today’s generation will put down their smartphones for a while, thinking may actually happen. Of course that isn’t likely to happen. Our younger grandkids are plugged in to the phones all day long.

I agree. We went to Northern Ontario last month and had no cell, internet or TV. My son had a great time.

Yep, when we were growing up we had to figure out things as to how things work or didn’t and gather information. Also where to get our information from. Now with smartphones and the internet everything is at our fingertips and people rely on it to much and don’t do thinking on their own.

I’ve sorted out lots of issues on long solo motorcycle rides....

Cathy is now in Spain teaching at a law school. I'm getting several pictures from her and looking at her updates on Facebook.

With her Bill, you done good. Congratulations

He probably walked the Camino de Santiago or at least part of it. I have not done it personally but have a few different friends that have, one just got back a week ago. Big part of the reason they go is the opportunity for prayer and meditation, not sure if that was your grandsons goal or it just happened because of the circumstances but good for him.

Its not just kids that are plugged in 24/7, lots of adults have the same issue. What I have found with kids, teenagers specifically, is that if you can get them unplugged and into an environment like that where they can be in nature, focus on thoughts, prayers, etc that they will get a lot out of it. Sounds like he did.

Kind of parallels the same reasons that a lot of us think hunting, fishing and working outside is great.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camino_de_Santiago

My moneys on MS. O he was gone quail hunting