Multi-Tasking to Death

When did we all get so busy that we "need" to text friends or family instead of call because if we text we can also wash dishes, do laundry, make the bed, play a game and answer an email all at the same time?  When did we all get so busy that we have options to order complete meals on-line and they are delivered to the house with all of the ingredients and instructions for cooking instead of going to the grocery store because that would take too much time?  When did we all get so busy that we order most anything we want on-line instead of going to any store at all?  When did we all get so busy that we no longer write and mail checks to pay our bills but instead have automatic payments made from a bank account to pay creditors?  When did we all get so busy that we "must" have a phone on our person at all times so we don't miss anything? Oh, and when did we all get so busy that we have to have the car drive itself instead of us driving the car?

What happened? When did it happen?  How did it happen?

Not long ago, we had time.  We had time to call people on the phone.  We had time to go shopping at the grocery store and plan and cook meals.  We had time to go clothes shopping or Christmas shopping and it was fun!  We had time to sit at the kitchen table with all the bills and envelopes and stamps spread out and write checks and see where the money was spent.  We had time to find out everything we needed to know and didn't need the internet.  We had time to take a Sunday drive and get an ice cream cone and relax.

I believe that human beings are amazing and can invent fabulous conveniences and solve problems.   I believe that we were all convinced "streamlining" and "automation" would make our lives easier and less stressful. I believe that we thought if everything was faster and more accessible everything would be awesome.  I believe that we were wrong.

Somewhere in all of these incredible inventions, we lost our humanity.  We lost our connection to people.  We lost our pride of doing a good job.  We lost our joy of just living and learning and doing. You may think I have taken these ideas too far.  Please allow me to give a very simple example.  When I was in high school, I took Typing.  This is when a typewriter existed, a manual typewriter, not an electric one or a keyboard or a computer.  A real typewriter!  First and foremost, you had to learn how to type properly.  You didn't hunt and peck and you didn't just use your thumbs.  You had to have proper finger placement on the keys.  Secondly, you had to spell correctly.  You didn't have spell check or autocorrect. You had to practice!  It was hard but you gained a sense of accomplishment in learning and pride in knowing that you could type 60 words per minute with no errors.  That was a huge deal!  Nowadays, you TALK to your phone and everything gets typed for you.  Is this really better?  When did we all get so busy?

And finally, I will leave with this final question.  When did we all get so busy and so frantic about multi-tasking that we leave our children in the backseat of the car and forget they are there?  Really?

Until next time,
Anne