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.
