Disconnecting to connect

How often have you been out to dinner while your friend or child ignores all conversation going on around them to stare down at the glowing light of their smart phone?

We're all guilty of getting caught up in mindless reality TV shows instead of doing something more productive or getting out and being with people. Everyone knows that Facebook is addictive. Even if you're angry the entire time you're looking at it, you're still looking at it. Yelling at the computer that you don't care what your neighbor from 10 years ago is making for dinner or that you really don't want to know every intimate detail of your brother's coworker's friend's pregnancy doesn't make any difference if you're still checking for updates every 30 minutes.

I finally got a cable hookup last week for the first time in three years. I was flabbergasted by some of the shows I'd never heard of before. I ended up watching a cooking show hosted by Jeff Foxworthy. I have no clue what Jeff Foxworthy knows about cooking. His only qualification is probably just that he likes to eat. Yes, I ended up watching the entire show even though I was thinking, "this is really stupid" the whole time.

Most of us have come to rely heavily on technology and sometimes it has its benefit. I almost never get lost anymore because I recently got a smart phone with GPS. But sometimes GPS is wrong and I'm forced to interact with people, which is obviously awful.

Although smart phones can keep us informed and in touch, they are also a huge distraction. If you're always checking Facebook to see which one of your friends liked your status, you might be ignoring the friends you're actually hanging out with.

Facebook is a great way to stay in touch with far away friends and family, but it also takes away from big life moments. I've found out that many of my fairly close friends were pregnant on the site.

I don't know about you all, but I think that deserves a phone call.

Sometimes the safety of hiding behind a screen can make those using social media say things they would never say in person. Social media makes people bold, and sometimes ruthless. I'm sure many of you noticed this in the comments of the YouTube video involving Officer Tobler and Stephen Bell. People get so angry, accusatory and profane when arguing online. It can make us forget that there are real people with real feelings on the other side of our computer connection.

Many people might play games on their phone, veg out in front of the TV or stalk old girlfriends on Facebook instead of getting out to do something new or spending time with friends or family. Technology gives us an excuse to tune out what's going on around us and potentially miss out on important things in our lives.

This weekend, leave your technology behind go out and do something new and spend time with those you love. Head out to the Lincoln Highway centennial celebrations this Saturday and leave your phone at home.

You might not be able check in and let everyone know what you're doing, but you might be able to reconnect with people you care about face to face.