Setting Priorities Amid Technology

Time has a wonderful way of showing us what really matters. – Margaret Peters

Sometimes, for me, the job of setting priorities becomes daunting. It’s like climbing this steep wall outside of the St. Regis Hotel. Even the birds are trapped. How do we extricate ourselves from the myriad of options assaulting us at every moment? Technology has become both our savior and foe.

I grew up in a time before iPhones and personal computers. Websites, social media, blogs, podcasts and online shopping didn’t exist. I remember when a friend and I took her husband’s new corvette. We drove to a wedding reception held in a large garden. I needed to make a phone call, but where would I find a phone? We sat in the car considering our options when we noticed a phone attached to the dashboard. Who knew? A phone in the car was an anomaly.

I see a trend with my friends moving away from technology. Especially relating to social media sites. We’re burning out. To paraphrase Ms. Peters, “Time shows us what really matters.” As we age, we recognize how precious every moment is. In the end, what will we value more ?An hour glued to our lap top or a walk through the park on a crisp autumn morning? If not a walk, an hour curled up in front of the fire with a new book? Or calling someone and having an actual conversation?

Technology provides many benefits. It helps us to connect to the world and improves our lives in a myriad of ways. On the negative side, it can prevent us from experiencing life around us in an authentic way.