What are you doing for Lent? Here’s some food for thought that may make you feel better.
I talked a little about our love of all things digital last week.
It was a lighthearted observation on a cultural phenomenon that is here to stay.
I love social media for what it can achieve for me: more readers, more listeners and instant information on just about anything I want to know.
Gone are the days when I’d have to traipse off to the library, dig around in microfiche archives and scan newspapers and magazines for leads on stories I’d heard in passing while flipping through channels on my car radio.
Google is a faithful and encyclopedic colleague, I type in an idea, a sentence, a phrase and up pops exactly what I’m looking for without wasting a minute.
Contrary to popular opinion, despite being a homeschooler, being social defines me.
I am a card sender and mark birthdays and anniversaries by mailing greetings so that they land in a postbox or on a doormat to delight the recipient. A colorful, handwritten envelope among the junk mail.
The other day I did not have addresses to send my observation of the Year’s Mind of a dear friend. I used Facebook instead.
I was able to reach out across America to my friend’s family and share how I was feeling that day after living in the world without their brother for a year. It worked, my message was received and appreciated thanks to Facebook…did I just write that?
Social Media can keep us together, the internet can help us in our work and digital storage capacities can save us space.
My father would have loved to have all his records stored on a dongle (similar to a USB for my American friends…dongle sounds like much more fun doesn’t it?). He could have slipped his whole music library into the inside pocket of his jacket. How cool is that?
My personal experience, backed up now by research, has revealed some downsides and I know you’ve noticed! I’m not only talking about the texting that goes on while face to face conversation is possible.
This explosion of Device Attachment Syndrome is becoming a health threat.
Not breathing the same air as your BFF
could cause loneliness which may alter genetic activity and lower your immunity. Watch out for head colds. I kid you not!
Depression happens when TLC is in scarce supply. I’m telling you, have you reached out and stroked your screen recently…more weirdly, has it leaned forward and kissed you…evah?!
I am the first to admit it is way easier to text a message, send a picture with a clever caption,
Butt Dust
Facebook a request, email a link or Tweet an idea than pick up the phone or drop in for a cuppa.
Communication may be simpler, but perish the thought if your device gets shattered,
How on earth will you survive?
Isn’t it time we mixed our social skills up a wee bit?
Smile and say hello to those you meet in hallways, along pathways, in line at the grocery store or at your favorite coffee shop, and I’m not only talking about the barista, what about your fellow caffeine lovers?
Try it for Lent and you may find you feel better.
(Thanks Daughts for providing the visuals!)
Well hello there! My name is Vivienne McNeny.
I am an empty nester exploring life as a Boomer…you could say I'm happily Boomering along!
As a homeschooling Mum I have finally quit the job of role model and mentor to my four children. I do what I want to do, eat when I feel like it, enjoy life with my blue eyed cowboy and clean my house once a month or so whether it needs it or not!
In true English form I write about the emergence of my true identity now that I can no longer hide behind my children as their Mum.
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