How do you balance your life?
That is a question that I’ve been struggling with a lot lately. It has been tough to balance two jobs, my family, and technology.
Recently, Dumb Little Man’s Jay White wrote “You, Me, and the Crackberry Make Three” which is a humorous piece that focuses on how important it is to keep everything in balance.
I have my e-mail set-up on the laptop, which makes it a little too easy to sit on the couch and work into the wee hours of the morning.
With me essentially working 35 hours a week at Best Buy on second-shift, that leaves few precious nights to enjoy the company of Gretchen and Sadie Lynn. And technology can - and at times has - put a wall up between us.
Jason makes a great comment, “Technology keeps us connected, yet prevents us from really connecting deeply with those who matter most.”
In this season of giving, why not step back and give those that matter most what they really want — your full attention.
What does this have to do with real estate? Or specifically about Delaware, Ohio?
Nothing.
It is about being a more connected person with your family and friends. Anderson Cooper was on Live with Regis and Kelly on Friday as a co-host and began telling a story.
He was grabbing a cab, and realized he didn’t have any cash, so he slipped into a deli to find an ATM. A couple of drunk girls were at the machine and he said, “So I did whatever I do when I get into a group of people, I pulled out my phone and pretended to be talking to someone.”
Now, I have a ton of respect for Anderson Cooper and he is an amazingly talented reporter. But this story tells the exact issue that technology has allowed. We can hide behind it and think we have made a connection with people.
So do your friends and family a favor, close this blog tonight and have a real discussion with them. Give that old friend a call — not a text or e-mail — tonight to touch base and make sure everything is alright.
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Tags: Balance, Blackberry, Family, Job, Life, Technology, Work
December 17th, 2007 at 11:13 am
Sage advice indeed. I am guilty as charged here.
December 17th, 2007 at 12:31 pm
Funny last week I was trying to explain how the more social networks I join the fewer friends I have and no one got it.
December 17th, 2007 at 9:02 pm
Chris - I am as guilty as anyone about this.
Teresa - Was it online or in person? I have found that a lot of “online” oriented people don’t quite understand …
December 20th, 2007 at 7:59 am
Parade Magazine recently talked with Drew Carey about his technology usage.
“This business about e-mail and computers keeping you from communicating is nonsense. It’s nice to talk to people in person, but sometimes you just can’t. When my fiancée and I are in different cities, we go on dates in Second Life—a Web site that’s like a virtual world. We could just talk on the phone, but we meet online instead. It’s fun.”
I think he’s missing the point. For real friends using technology to keep in touch is okay. However it seems that too often people confuse having 200 friends on MySpace with REALLY having 200 friends.
http://www.parade.com/articles.....Drew_Carey