The Technology Trap

Technology has enhanced and simplified our lives in many ways. We can facetime with family members who are on the other side of the planet, we can access our entire music catalog whenever we want, and we can do all of our holiday shopping from the comfort of our living room. All of this is possible through our phones. But it can come at a tremendous cost. The overuse of and problematic dependence on technology for many people can cause enduring emotional distress and interfere with what is really important in life. I wrote the following after observing a few things while in the car line to pick up my daughter from school.

Our addiction to artificial entertainment/stimuli is causing us to forget our attraction to genuine entertainment/stimuli… our attraction to life around us and not on a screen planted six inches from our faces.

Parents in the car line, head down, necks uncomfortably crooked, eyes vacant, staring at a lifeless screen. Engrossed in the facebook/snapchat overly filtered lives of others, lives that appear perfect and remind us that our lives are not nearly as good, successful, and happy. Lives that make us irritated, sad, angry, frustrated, and anxious. All the while real life in all its captivating and awe inspiring forms is ignored: The strong and powerful tree being challenged by a gentle breeze, the glowing and vivid colors of an approaching sunset, the pure joy of another parent accepting the smile filled hug offered by their child.

Put the phone down, look around, and Let’s wake up.