It's okay to disconnect once in a while

Sometimes I feel like I'm swimming in information overload. Articles and news stories and blogs and status updates and daily reminders.....the list goes on. I sign into Yahoo; "What Keeps Men Happy In Relationships", "Sky's Color May Have Changed" (I laughed at that title alone), "Controversy of a Teen Sailor", "Eleven Budgeting Mistakes", "What Not to Do In Facebook", "Best and Worse Frozen Foods".....Scroll through facebook/twitter to see what people "Like", where they are, what they've eaten, what they're mad about, what they hate, what they love, the weather in their city, what team they're rooting for, and what hilarious video's are out there in cyberspace. I follow a few blogs and actually get upset with myself when I get behind in the reading of them, they're not going anywhere but it's almost like a need I have to keep up, or a courtesy to my friend to keep myself in the know of their thoughts. I've said before, "If they're going to take the time to write it, I'm going to take the time to read it".
But isn't it okay to disconnect for a while?
I just got back from Oahu. Eight glorious days of beautiful, aqua painted ocean, so much fresh pineapple I didn't know what to do with it, catamarin rides with views of spinner dolphins leaping out of the water, long beach walks, luaus, the smell of plumeria at every turn, hawaiian music wafting through the stores, friends sitting in three's playing the Ukelele on a Sunday afternoon in the shade, quality time spent with some of my favorite people in the world, laughing until we cried (seriously), laid back attire (I love my sarong), infinity pools, "island" hair (ahem, its a little humid over there) but don't get me wrong. I. LOVED.IT.
I had no idea what was going on in world news. I turned twitter off on my phone. I updated facebook five times while I was away, once from Maui, but turned all notifications off other than my own. I just.....disconnected.
I've been thinking about that since I've been home, how freeing it felt. I'm not saying I don't want to know what's going on the world, of course I do. You already know I love twitter, I don't believe I can use the word "love" for facebook what with all of this privacy setting change taking place right now. I don't understand the whole "forcing the social connection even more" facebook is doing, it's like they're getting paid if I become friends with four hundred people rather than two hundred. There are certian things I like to be able to control regarding what I'm doing when I'm in facebook, not really caring for the fact that they've taken away my right to do so in a lot of ways. So yeah.....my mouse does hover over that deactivate button at times. But, to be fair, I do update facebook at least once a day, usually. Just keeping it real, I don't want to be a hypocrite and say I hate it, I just don't like some of the changes they're making. But if they ever ask me to PAY to use it? Not doing it.
I said to a friend today, "what did we ever do before social media?" A few years ago I remember saying "what did we ever do before cell phones, and texting?"
What DID we do? Read more books? Not for me, I read every day and have for as long as I can remember. Get outside and enjoy the fresh air more? That probably is true for some. Spend more time having real, face to face conversations? I think so. Technology has brought us a long way, and I think that's really cool. I love having the text option, especially if I need to say something but I don't have time to talk. But that makes me wonder. Before we had this option, we either made time for the verbal conversation, or waited until there was time for it, or it didn't happen at all.
I met with friends recently who I hadn't seen since I got back from Hawaii. I remember noticing, and I include myself in this, that everyone had their cell phone either in their hand or on the table right next to them so they were aware at all times of any incoming texts, calls, or social media activity. I thought, so this is what we've come to. I wonder what would happen if I said out loud, okay everybody, phones off. Would they be able to do it? Would "I" be able to do it? I just don't know! I know my friends would say, "are you kidding, your cell phone is like an extra limb, you would die". =)

So I'm home, back to work, and totally connected again.

But I hear that tide coming in.....and see the moon hovering over the water, feel the soft breeze and smell the fresh smells. I think I may disconnect a little more often now. Be sure to do that when you need to as well.

They serve rice with their eggs at breakfast on the island, we'll have that this morning too at Tiffany's, it's quite tasty.

See you soon,
Tiffany