Is Technology Ruining Our Lives?

Growing up my family had dial up internet. (Yes, there was a time when Wi-Fi was non-existent.) There was exactly one computer in the house that was the family computer and my brother and I had e-mail accounts, closely monitored by our parents. We weren’t allowed to use the computer without permission or during the school week unless we had an assignment or project that needed to be done. There was no social media. No smart phones. No texting. And no way of anyone being able to have multiple ways of being able to get in touch with you or clock your moves. I remember that time (early through late 90s) being much more peaceful.

These days? There’s practically technology almost, everywhere. People aren’t as present as they used to be. Most people seem so “plugged in” that they’re often out of touch with reality. Others have meltdowns and fall into comparison traps after scrolling through their social media feeds, and a lot of people are definitely way more impatient.

I don’t believe technology is evil, however, I believe it’s a great source of strain, pressure, and addiction for many, many people. Pro’s like, being able to keep in touch with others, stream television shows and movies at one’s leisure and the option to obtain tickets for events and travel, and being able to do online shopping are nice, but the con’s such as distractions, comparisons, and the lack of being present are things that can prompt the question:

Is technology ruining our lives?

Henry David Thoreau once said, “Men have become tools of their tools…”

Have we?

The Day I Became A Kidney Donor

About a year ago, I had a dream my dad wanted to talk to our family about something serious. I wasn’t sure what he wanted to discuss, but I knew it was something I needed to prepare myself for. Around the time after I had this dream, I remember stopping by my parents place and sensing something was going on that they weren’t telling me. I tried to dismiss what I’d been feeling, but I couldn’t shake it. Something serious was happening. As I returned to my home after visiting them one day, I was in my kitchen washing dishes when a heaviness hit my heart like nothing I’d ever felt before. Something’s wrong with dad. That’s what that dream was about. God, what’s going on? As I continued washing dishes, I started crying and praying. Then in mid-spring, my dad held an unexpected family meeting that would change all our lives forever. He hesitated at first, and as his voice started cracking and he started crying, he said, “Well, I wanted to talk to ya’ll to tell you that I have kidney disea...

I’m Glad I’m Not Married

When I was about five years old, I was sitting in the backseat of my dad’s car when me, him, my older cousin (my aunt’s son), and my aunt (my dad’s sister) caught my aunt’s fiancé with another woman. My dad had been driving my aunt out to run some errands since she didn’t have a driver’s license or a car. When she spotted her man with another woman, she told my dad to pull the car over, got out of the car, and immediately addressed him. She wanted the keys back to her apartment and was done with him. The other woman she caught her fiancé with slapped him when she realized what was happening, and that was that. When my aunt returned to the car, she was clearly and understandably upset, and the ride back to her place was quiet. Although I was too young to fully grasp what was happening at the time, I knew it wasn’t good. And now, at 34 years old, I can’t imagine how much pain she was in. Her wedding had been planned and paid for – and she never made it down the aisle. My aunt was a beaut...

How To Respond To A Nasty Email

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Making Waves