People Not Plugs

I have an idea. For one day, let’s unplug. Unplug the computer. Unplug the television. Unplug the video games. Unplug the DVD and CD players. I say let’s even unplug the microwave, stove and the vacuum cleaners.

For one day in our lives, let’s make life about only ourselves and the people in our lives. And, yes, that does mean you have to put down that cell phone and IPAD.

If possible, pick a weekend day. For those of you who work on the weekend, your one exception to the day is work. Do what you need to do there; then once you are out of work, the fun begins. It’s family/people/personal time.

Read a book. Rake the lawn. Play HORSE – taking shots from different sides of the basketball hoop. Sweep the driveway. Go for a walk. Play Chutes N Ladders, Monopoly, Life, Boggle, Scrabble, Operation, Twister or any game that peaks your interest. Find something nonelectric to fill your time or maybe just veg out with a friend or mate. Let’s bring back the ‘daydream’. For those who don’t know what that is; freedictionary.com defines it as a dreamlike musing or fantasy while awake. Interesting, huh? In a recent article, Mitch Albom says, “We need to lighten it up. Sometimes doing nothing is doing something.” Here’s another novel idea. Have a conversation. If you are alone, go introduce yourself to one of your neighbors that you don’t know and seem to regularly ignore.

The key is to pay more attention to your surroundings and try interacting more directly with people instead of through some media.

Just the other day, I was driving and realized how much we depend on our toys – cars, computers, cell phones and such. And the passing of Steve Jobs should show us that life can be shorter than we planned. No more days are promised to any of us.

So, let’s live like it’s our last day around people. Unplug for a day, cookout and enjoy the fall weather.

Do you remember that time you misplaced your cell phone? What about the time your computer wouldn’t do what you wanted it to? Wasn’t it just the end of the world for you? Not! It might have felt like it, but you can live without these things.

We are all part of this ‘electronic craze’. And after the one day sabbatical has ended, you get to rejoin.

Can you remember the last time you sent someone a letter? Try writing just one. Then actually mail it. The funny thing is that the person will probably ask you, “What happened, did your computer break? Were you unable to text with your cell phone, and is your landline out of commission?” These are all valid questions, I guess. But me, I would love to get a handwritten letter in the mail. It’s better than all the junk mail and bills I get.

In this age of electronics, our kids are reading and writing less. And, instead of learning life lessons from home, they are learning these things on the computer. One of the biggest lessons there is for them to learn is how to socialize with other people. Children playing and learning with others is a pastime that is slowly dying.

An American psychologist, Philip Zimbardo, said it best. “What trouble…the Internet and the electronic technology revolution…so many people spending huge
amounts of time alone, isolated on e-mail, in chat rooms, [reducing] their face-to-face contact with other people.”

So, my pledge to myself is that I will unplug for a day. You choose your day, but do this – not just for yourself, but for humanity.

I’m not telling you what to do. It’s just an idea. What do you think?