The Need to Disconnect

Yep, it happened the other night.  The weather was beautiful, steaks on the barbecue, glass of tasty Pinot Noir.  My wife in one chair, me in the other, sitting around our patio table.  WE BOTH HAD OUR PHONES OUT, SCROLLING THROUGH SOME APP - Facebook for Lisa, Flipboard for me... All at once we looked up at each other and almost in unison said, "This is STUPID.  We are out here, have time alone, and we are both on our phones!"

We immediately put our phones down and had a conversation.  And it felt darn good - to SPEAK, to be disconnected from an electronic device that has become an extension of our being!

I realize the power of the internet.  I love the information that I have available to me at all times - literally at my finger tips.  But what are we becoming?  People glued to our phones and devices all the time?  It's anti-social and unhealthy.  My eyesight is diminishing.  My attention span is awful.  I walk into a room and everybody is on their phone - including me!  This has to end!

Lately, when I go to the gym and workout, I have been leaving my phone in the locker.  I need time away from it.  I have been making a conscious choice not to be connected all of the time - and it's HARD, but it feels so good.

From the late (and great) comedian George Carlin:

"The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.

Remember to spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

And always remember, life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by those moments that take our breath away."

We all need to reflect about our tech use and perhaps disconnect - otherwise we will lose our personal connections and relationships.... life will pass us by.