The great disconnect

While we were celebrating Dad's retirement at the cabin last weekend, I made it a point not to have my phone on.  It was some of the better four day spans in recent times.  Not having to check my phone because I thought I heard it ring or vibrate, not having to look to see what time it was by grabbing my phone, not having to worry about it at all.  It was just a nice disconnect from the world.  The other thing I was away from was the internet.  And you know what, I didn't miss it that much.

The way our lives and the world is now, we are connected all the time.  I laughed at my brother several times because even though he was on vacation, he still was doing work having to take phone calls from some of the morons that he works with.  Granted, he is going to get a full day's worth of vacation time back because he did spend close to eight hours over the course of the week on the phone doing work, but that is still time that he set aside to come home and escape from the working world.  I don't have a job that demands that kind of responsibility, which is nice.  I didn't have a care in the world for the four days we were at the cabin.  I find myself thinking more and more about using the internet less and less.  I shouldn't say 'using' the internet less and less, I should say 'being on' the internet less and less.  It's a time killer for sure.  Facebook is nice, but I find myself checking up on it two or three times a day.  I want to get away from that dependence to see what everyone is doing every waking hour.

I will still write as much as possible, but instead of going from useless website to useless website, I may read a book or go for a walk, or explore the city we are going to be moving to in August.  It's time to get out and enjoy the world.  Take a look in the mirror.  How much time to spend looking around the internet?  Can some of that time be spent reading a book or going for a bike ride?  Maybe it's time to take up a new hobby?  Have you ever wanted to learn how to change the oil in your car?  What about basket weaving, or maybe underwater basket weaving?  Take some time to better yourself and get away from the glow of the screen and the lure of the internet.







What are you waiting for?