“Give me the simple life.”

I was reminded of these lyrics from Steve Tyrell while on the tram, with 2 of my colleagues, at Newark airport this morning. While feverishly replying to emails on my MotoQ, I happened to catch a glance of a guy dressed very casually pointing us out to his female companion. While obviously whispering to her, he made air gestures of “tumb typing”. I looked over at my two colleagues who mirrored my self-absorption into their own mobile devices. We were like 3 emotionless drones all acting in unison.  To an “unconnected” observer, I could understand why the sight was a bit ridiculous and comical.

I’ve become all too accustomed with the fast-pace of my life and the way in which technology has completely converged with it – I’ve welcomed that to happen. Like many of us, I get restless when I’m not connected.  Yet just 10 years ago, none of us were digitally enabled the way we are today – and in 10 years from now, we’ll look back to right now and probably laugh at how archaic it is.

But It takes encounters like this morning to remind me that it’s important to slow it down every once in a while, just for a bit, to enjoy  “the simple life” for that very moment in time.

Comments

[Bonnie Sashin]

Mike,
Great post! As much as I too seem inseparable from my iPhone, I had to smile a few minutes ago when I realize a guy I follow was tweeting all through his son's college graduation.
BTW, your presentation at the Social Media Club the other night was great.

[Mike Proulx]

Bonnie, thanks! It was great to see you on Thursday. Hopefully your "followee" was live tweeting the goings on at the graduation as opposed to not paying attention to his kid! It just goes to show how addicted we all are to our mobile devices.