In our fast passed world of blackberry’s, bluetooth and laptops it seems as if we are always moving a mile a minute. Instead of writing your friend a letter you email them, instead of leaving a voicemail you simply send a text, instead of cooking a meal you simple order curbside-to-go. While all these wonderful technological advancements are making our lives easier, are they causing us to lose our connections with each other? Are we losing the ability to step back and take a breath?

I can’t help but notice how things have changed. Small talk is quickly becoming a thing of the past. No time to chat with the neighbor or make friendly banter with the waitress while ordering. We are now caught up in 60 minute lunch breaks filled with endless errands.

Everytime I go into a public place like a restaurant or a movie theater I like to take notice of other peoples behavior. It is one of my favorite pastimes — people watching. I am noticing more and more frequently how disconnected people are with each other. A couple is having dinner and he is on his cell phone returning calls and she is on her blackberry checking emails….dinner conversation is replaced with multi-tasking. Children sit in booster seats with portable DVD players shoved in their faces and headphones on so as to not disturb the parents. No time to teach table manners if your kid cannot even hear you huh?

Don’t get me wrong, I love technology. I am writing this on my laptop, sitting in my living room thanks to the wireless router in my office. I enjoy sending picture messages from my cell phone to my friends who are far away. I love having more than 13 channels on the tv and being able to use my ipod in the car for long trips. But how much technology is too much?

I try to reign myself in by remembering those small interactions I have always enjoyed. Opening up a handwritten letter from a far away friend. Receiving a call from someone who I haven’t heard from in a year. Having a sit down meal with my husband with no distractions. I don’t want to forget any of these things. I still have some old letters from my great aunt. She lived in NYC and used to type me notes on her personal stationary using her work typewriter. The thrill of getting those letters in the mail as a small child! The crisp stationary was so impressive to me. I used to think…someday I am going to work in an office with my own stationary and my very own typewriter! Oh if my great aunt could see me now….

The bottom line is, yes we rely on technology too much. Yes we are losing touch with some fundamental things like politeness and taking time out for ourselves. But the good news is that it is completely possible to reverse the cycle. You don’t have to throw away your cell phone or cancel digital cable. Just remember to write a letter to that old friend you miss so much, or stop and tell the neighbor how vibrant the pansies in their garden look. Just remember that no amount of technology can replace basic human interaction.

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