We live in a technology-generated world, one in which society demands us to stay connected. Meaningful relationships and deep conversations are something of the past. Attraction, which is the core of every relationship, has disappeared. We no longer look to someone’s friendliness, appearance, humor, values or gratitude, but rather we look at the number of friends they have on Facebook, their latest tweet or their current status. We overload ourselves with meaningless information instead of filling ourselves with the profound details.
The average person spends seven hours a day connected to some sort of technology, whether it be browsing through social media sites, listening to the radio, playing video games or simply watching television.
Think about it. For that seven-hours stretch, you are not communicating with those around you. You are completely detached from reality and you enter a world in which Facebook statuses, tweets, YouTube videos, television shows and text messages dominate your complete attention.
Humans are not meant to run like computers, operating at high speeds and constantly multi-tasking. We are meant to engage in interpersonal relationships in which emotions and feelings can be sensed immediately. We are ourselves through reading, creating, writing, reflecting, exercising and meditating.
In order to overcome this technology-driven lifestyle, I would like to suggest the idea of disconnecting to connect: disconnecting from your iPhone, computer and television and connecting to the people around you.
When was the last time you completely unplugged from all technology for more than three hours, not counting sleep?
While I realize this is an unreasonable request to many, I strongly believe it could change your perspective on technology and more importantly, your relationships with friends and family.
As many Harding students have done, I was given the opportunity to travel abroad to Florence, Italy, two summers ago. While there, I was isolated from my family and especially from technology. I was able to completely engross myself in that culture because I was not constantly checking my phone for texts, logging into Facebook and tweeting about every adventure. Technology and especially Internet connection were few and far between. Looking back, I am extremely thankful for the lack of technology because I was able to become friends with 40 students from all walks of life.
So why did I have to go overseas to make meaningful relationships? I didn’t. I just had to disconnect from technology to truly connect with those around me.
Again, I strongly urge everyone to take a day to disconnect to connect. Disconnect, tune out, unplug and logout. Connect to each other, focus on relationships and embrace nature.
Become an individual, not a one-page profile.
