Nate Marshall discusses the importance of trade work and working with our hands for personal and societal benefits. Topics include the role of hands in connecting with the world, the impact of technology, the power of hands-on activities for well-being, and the concept of work-life balance and Sabbath.
Engaging in manual labor enhances self-awareness and agency through the connection with the physical world.
Understanding the purpose and design of tools impacts how we interact with our environment, blurring the line between technology and tools.
Deep dives
The Importance of Using Our Hands
Using our hands is essential as it allows us to navigate and interact with the material world around us. Our bodies, especially our hands, facilitate our connection with the environment and help us build or repair it. This physical engagement with the world promotes a deeper understanding of ourselves and our surroundings. Through manual labor, we establish a tangible link to our existence and enhance our cognitive and emotional capacities.
The Relationship Between Technology and Tools
The distinction between technology and tools is blurred as both are integral to our daily lives. While some may differentiate between the two by categorizing tools like hammers separately from technologies like social media, the line is increasingly indistinct. Language itself is a form of technology, allowing us to communicate and shape our environment. Understanding the purpose and design of tools influences their use and impacts how we interact with the world.
The Value of Manual Labor and Human Agency
Engaging in manual labor reinforces human agency and self-awareness. Through crafting and building with our hands, we gain a deeper understanding of our abilities and limitations. Manual labor requires full engagement of mind, body, and spirit, fostering discipline and self-awareness. By actively participating in tasks that demand physical exertion, we cultivate a sense of agency and a more profound connection to our actions.
Bridging the Gap Between Knowledge Work and Embodiment
For individuals primarily engaged in knowledge work, incorporating embodied practices is vital for holistic development. Balancing mental pursuits with physical activities cultivates a deeper integration of mind, body, and spirit. Engaging in activities that require physical coordination, such as gardening or playing musical instruments, enhances cognitive abilities and emotional resilience. Embodying cognitive processes through manual tasks promotes a fuller expression of one's humanity and nurtures a deeper connection to the world.
Why do we humans, as embodied creatures, need to make things? And more specifically, why do we need to make things with our hands? What’s the benefit on both a personal and societal level? Nate Marshall and I chat about trade work (and the culture’s side-eye of it), what we learn about our souls when we work with our bodies, and what to do about this if we tend to live up in our heads.