When I sit and think about the gadgets and technologies upon which I have developed dependence, I become a bit worried. What if something happened to the satellite connected to my 3G? What if the wireless in my home or at the Starbucks stopped working? What if something as simple as the gas or electricity went out in my home or at my work? What if the water that so reliably comes out of my faucet every single time I turn it on, didn't turn on or the toilet didn't flush? Today, we have become so used to everything being right there at our finger tips and it's usually there with great speed. I shudder to think what would happen, how many businesses would be threatened, if the electricity went out for a few days or even hours.

The Verizon FIoS bundle - this means my house phone, internet, and TV are all with the same company and I am billed for all three on the same bill. Prior to the bundle pack, I had DirectTV. I was introduced several years ago to TiVo and it was love at first sight. I love having a DVR and will never be without one again. When I first got a DVR, I remember wishing life had a rewind button... it seemed so easy to back up and watch what I wanted again.

I have an iPhone. Sorry, if that offends you "other" phone lovers. I have had an iPhone for two years now and I love it. It has made my life a lot easier and reduced my need to take my laptop with me everywhere. My favorite part of the iPhone is the touch screen. It's fabulous and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I will admit that occasionally my calls are dropped but overall, my iPhone experience has been incredible.

My Honda Accord has cruise control, a really cool function, given all my freeway driving. It had been a very dependable vehicle and I am thankful that it gets such excellent gas mileage. It has truly been a great car. The other day, I got in and began my commute. I glanced at the dash and noticed a light that told me I had left the cruise control on from the night before. I didn't think twice; I just reached out and touched the light display on my dash. Nothing happened. I touched it again, fully expecting it to react like the touch screen on my iPhone. The cruise control wouldn't turn off. Ummm..., that's because you have to press the button on the steering wheel, not the non-existent touch screen on the dash... geez. I just absently pressed it, twice.

Life doesn't have rewind button and not every device has a touch screen..., yet.
It is easy for me to get lost in technology and new media because I love it so much. But I also know that the more we come to rely on all this tech, the more likely we are to withdraw from real life and real people. Life is not a video game or a game at all. Life just is. At it's very core, it is birth, breathing, learning, loving and pain, then death. When we dull ourselves to the real life experience, we miss the basics, we miss the core. So, every once in a while, put the phone down, walk away from the bundle, and unplug. It'll do you good.

© by rayannethorn