A sunny Saturday afternoon in September finds me sitting upon a bench behind Holy Cross Ambulatory Care and overlooking the gently ruffled waters of Glennmore Reservoir.  The observant of you might catch the irony almost immediately in that why?  In such a serene and tranquil place why have I instead chosen to focus my attention to a silicate surface?  Why slide my fingers gently across a digitizer when instead I should be caressing them upon the face of thy cherished?  Perhaps the reflected beauty that I gaze upon is worthy of such attention; …surely that must be the answer.

 

The bigger question might be ‘why would one carry a tablet on a walk like this in the first place?’  Sitting upon this bench I watch birds down by the shoreline and find myself reflecting on a blog I read just an hour or so earlier.  Summing up the article it talked about how more often than not today’s employees find themselves still at work long after they’ve gone home for the day.  BYOD (device) to work has turned into a golden opportunity for corporations and businesses today as employees have never been more connected to their job than they are now. 

 

Five years ago, if someone sent me an email late on a Friday afternoon it was a pretty good bet that it would remain unanswered till Monday.  So far today, I’ve responded to two messages.  Amazingly, on a Saturday, I’m still doing work.  In my defense though responding to the emails today allows me to mitigate the stresses of dealing with added issues on Monday as well as provides value to the company by enabling those who sought my council two days sooner.  That’s my reward, nothing else.  No recognition at work; no compensation for my extra effort; I simply have the added relief of one less issue to deal with first thing Monday morning.  

 

Maggie Jackson’s blog on CNN goes a step farther in discussing how technology is wedging itself between the hearts of relationship.  She doesn’t outright say such, but if one analyzes the context of her article it’s not hard to draw a parallel.  I encourage you to take a moment to read it. 

 

 

Technology has gotten to the point where studies have identified that people have moved from watching the game on TV to watching the game on TV while reading or watching something else on their smartphone or tablet.  This trend has become such a big deal that broadcasters have now resorted to creating Android or Apple apps that allow viewers to interact with the broadcast.  It’s been tentatively dubbed the ‘two screen TV experience‘.  

 

While some networks have seen failures with the concept so far, such as ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy”, AMC, the network that broadcasts “Breaking Bad” and “The Walking Dead” are moving more aggressively towards enabling this new form of audience interaction.  Expect this to become a household standard; if not in your home today, most definitely your kid’s home tomorrow.

 

But let’s get back to the point of this blog.  Ok, so this is the future to come; how do we keep love of technology from turning relationships of eternal love into stagnant marriages of social and/or economical convenience?   After a session of lovemaking, if you find yourself reaching for your smartphone rather than pulling your lover into your arms, it may already be too late for you.  

 

So how do we deal with this?  Do we address this new threat of indifference by enforcing rules that keep technology out of our bedrooms; away from our diner tables; on our vacations, or during our dates?  Yes, there is value in connecting to the office after hours if only to reduce work related stress, but your smartphone shouldn’t be ringing while your looking across the candle lit table into her eyes.  Googling ‘relationship councilors’ is my gift, my tip, to those of you who might answer that phone.

 

Did I need to respond to these emails today?  Not really.  So then why did I?

 

In looking up from the tablet and leaning back I realized that the birds that I’d noticed earlier had flown off at some point.  As I toiled on this tablet in writing this blog, I hadn’t even noticed life passing me by.  Sadly I am not alone with this self-analogy.   As a girl I just noticed out for a run and just passed by seems oblivious to the world around her.  Instead, she appears focused on selecting a new song on her iPhone or perhaps even texting someone.  Distracted running to say the least. 

 

In less than a year in Calgary there have been a number of incidents and a few fatalities where people have walked into the path of an oncoming train.  Accidents which were likely caused by people distracted by their social life or music.  

 

In 2011 a Jetstar pilot arriving in Singapore aborted his landing a mere 400 feet from the ground because he was focused instead on his smartphone.  He forgot to lower the landing gear.  That same year in Northern British Columbia another pilot fatally crashed after losing situational awareness due to distraction by his cell phone.

 

So what is the point that I’m trying to get at.  It’s simple.  Technology is distracting; in a warped fashion it is killing us, rather it’s enabling us to kill ourselves.  But equally so, our embracing mobile devices, smartphones and tablets, will destroy a relationship just as if you stepped in front that train yourself.  

 

 

What I’m saying is let it go.  Yes, your work is important, and your boss loves your commitment, but you are more valuable to your employer when you have a good family life at home.  Your boss knows that, and they want that.  Instead, think first of your relationships and those who love and rely on you.  Lean back against that park bench, admire the beauty around you and think of nothing more than that person you love and stop writing thi…