My writing group started back up yesterday (thank the good Lord) and our first assignment was to spend 10 minutes writing about something we care about. I care about a lot of things, so the first 3 minutes of this exercise involved my attempting to slow down the onslaught of ideas long enough to capture and land on one of them.
What came to the forefront is my concern for the souls of our collective humanity. So, you know, nbd. This particular writing assignment provides a snapshot into what I see as the erosion of human connection brought on by all of the convenience technology delivers. We're like lobsters (or frogs) roiling to a slow boil. It's time to pay attention.
If you prefer to listen to me read it to you, click the link below. May we all learn to pay attention and find our way to a healthy balance.
A Terribly Convenient Life
I phoned my personal banker
to ask about a loan
to finance the car
that I haven’t been driving
these past two years.
Her voicemail answered,
and I noted the message
that in her voice said
she’d be back
yesterday.
Soon after I received an email with a link to apply online.
“So convenient, voice mail,” I thought.
I texted my handyman
to ask if he was coming back
to finish the job
repairing my ceiling
he started last week.
I immediately received his response: a yellow thumbs up.
“So convenient, texting,” I thought.
I placed an order to buy coffee
from a store in Seattle,
miles away from where I am,
to be shipped
tomorrow.
I instantly received an email confirmation.
“So convenient, online ordering,” I thought.
I worked out with a trainer,
had groceries delivered,
sent flowers to a friend, and
never left the house
today.
I rewarded myself by binging new episodes of my favorite show.
“So convenient, technology,” I thought.
I laid my head down
on my pillow
before sleeping
to play back the tape
of the day’s events.
Every task on
my long to-do list
was complete
and yet here on my pillow
I felt so
incomplete.
"Alexa," I said, "add a note:
make an appointment
with my therapist
to discuss
loneliness and
isolation."
“Your note has been added” she replied.
“So convenient, this disconnection from humanity,” I thought.