Connection with Others & Technology

As Jean mentioned in our last blog, we can “be” connected 24/7. I am so torn with technology and connection. Part of me loves it! I love that I can watch the World Cup and have all my friends and family on Facebook rooting for Mexico (even though we lost). I love that living far away from what used to be home, I can touch base with every person I love in this world. My problem arises when I stop connecting with the people I am physically with because I jump from a conversation with them, to one in cyberspace. My brother, recently, wrote a blog about the coolness of being able to use technology to connect with people during the world cup but at the same time it seems like we have ADD because we jump from one thing to the next. http://cafemagazine.com/index.php/component/myblog/fadd-futbol-add.html?blogger=CopaCaf%C3%A9

So as you can see, I have a dilemma-I have a love hate relationship with technology. I absolutely love the fact that I can “be” in the loop of things. That I can know everybody’s moment to moment news feed on facebook but at the same time I feel that I stop being present to what IS going on around me.

In this past year we have had a lot of friends and family visit us in our home in NJ. We used to have people visit us when we lived in Chicago and the Netherlands (5-10 years ago) The difference in the quality of the visit lately is huge. Before, we would gather around the table and talk and I would feel connected very easily. Now, we all have either a computer or a Blackberry or an Ipad in front of us and those get turned on or answered instantly-thus breaking the communication and for me the connection.

I think what I am seeking for is a balance in the way we use technology. I would love to go out to a lunch with my girlfriends and for us to agree that no one texts or answers the phone (unless it’s the children-or it seems like an emergency). If you have any ideas on how to handle this or if you want to share your story about connection I am all eyes and ears-unless I CHOOSE to see your response at a time when I am not connecting with my world around me!

Feeling a little torn…..Sandra