I was not only on Spring break last week, but I also took a digital holiday as well. I went on a cruise with my family and instead of paying .79 cents a minute for internet access on the ship I turned off my phone. I figured if someone really needed to reach me, they could do it the old fashioned way and call the cruise line. I wasn’t the only one in my family to take this digital vacation. My husband and kids also turned off their phones for 7 whole days!!!
At first, I wasn’t sure if I could deny the urge to check my emails and text messages that I’m pestered with 24/7. But, as the minutes passed without picking up my phone, it got easier. In fact, I got to the point that I didn’t even miss my phone. It was amazing what was happening every time we sat down to eat! We were all forced to talk to each other and it was like old times. When I was a kid I remember eating dinner in the kitchen and then spending hours sitting around the table, just talking about life with my parents and sister.
Back then, the biggest distraction was the television. Child psychologists warned back then that too much tv was bad for your kids. No, l wish the TV was the only distraction our kids had. At least they would be watching in their living room. Now, with a TV in their pocket, they can stay squirreled away in their room for hours on their devices, leaving parents wondering if they are even home.
While I certainly embrace technology and it has made life, communication and my job easier, there’s still something to be said about life before cell phones. Oh my, I’m starting to sound like my grandparents. ( At least I didn’t have to walk 2 miles uphill in the snow to and from school!)
I’m happy report me and my family survived our 7 day technology free experiment. By Sunday, I wasn’t clamoring to turn my phone back on. After we arrived back in Houston, I did turn on my phone and was greeted by hundreds of emails, missed texts and phones messages.
As we waited to get off the ship, my entire family was once again absorbed by their devices. We were talking about what we missed and who texted us, but it wasn’t the same. Unfortunately this is the way of the world now, but I enjoyed having a 1970’s style vacation, if only for 7 days.
