Abstinence makes the heart grow fonder...........maybe not.

Friday June 26, 2009
Notes Pre Abstinence

I might as well get it right out in the open. I have a serious love/hate relationship with the Internet. Don't get me wrong, I use the heck out of it. In fact I think I could even be slightly addicted to it, which is part of the reason that I hate it and love it.

See....and I know it sounds cliche' but I can clearly remember a time before "cyberspace" was a thread interwoven in the fiber of our very existence. I was a kid in the 70's. A time when the term PC meant nothing in either sense of the word. When roller skating and disco ruled my world (I am quite certain the gigantic headphones I wore on almost a daily basis have contributed to my later in life neck pain that strikes when I spend too much time in front of my computer).

In school we passed actual notes to friends, spilling your innermost thoughts and desires on paper with pencil and ink. The worst thing that could happen (and did) was the teacher intercepting your note and right there in front of you your life would be dished for all the world to hear (ok all the 5th grade class, but it felt like the world). For the next few days and quite possibly a week life sucked! But now those notes are often texts or email and who knew they could stick around, forever haunting those who hit the send button.

For me abstaining from the Internet might be a challenge because it has become such a habit, but I am actually looking forward to it. I don’t derive any pleasure from the Internet. It feels like work. During my favorite time (Sunday mornings) a client can interrupt my morning with an innocuous email talking about the week ahead. This distracts me and before I know it somehow, I am thinking about work and not home. I am looking forward to this abstinence assignment actually, I plan on working in the garden, maybe calling my friends on the phone. Hell, maybe I will dust of my skates (ok roller blades) and whip out the disco tunes, minus the gigando head phones (I don't want to end up in traction.)

Saturday June 27 6:30 am
Notes while abstaining from the Internet

My eyes just opened and I feel compelled to write a little. I have decided to write a list, a sort of Pro’s and Con’s of the Internet. Here it goes.

Love/Hate

I love that when I send an email to a client it can be nearly devoid of emotion and get right to the point.

I hate that when I am sending an email or IM to a friend I have to insert some emoticon so they understand the intended emotional response.

I love that I can actually keep in touch all of my friends throughout the world in Facebook making communication extremely convenient.

I hate when I find out something about my friends through Facebook rather than having them call me personally when something exciting happens in their lives.

I love that when I am trying to find a clients home I can Google the address and get driving directions right to their door.

I hate that someone can Google my address and they are given front door access right to my home.

I love that a world of information is available right at my fingertips for any subject at any time of day.

I hate that I can lose hours of the day getting “lost in space” to Google something, often forgetting what I was looking for in the first place.


So there it is…. This love/hate split person that I have become, as it seems what I love about the Internet I equally hate.

Sunday Morning 6:30 am
Post Abstinence

So here it is my favorite time of the day and before I get started I wanted to finish making my notes.

For over the last 24 hours I did not even open my computer. I had a wonderful day and really did not miss the Internet at all. However, I did make some fascinating discoveries about myself and my life with the Internet.

I realized that I have not actually held a newspaper in my hands for months. I read the daily NY Times via the web each morning when I drink my coffee.

I had to search my shelves and realize that I have no idea where my dictionary is!

I stream music through my PC from all over the world or download from Itunes. I can't remember the last time I listened to a CD.

I do not watch the news on TV anymore and rely on the Internet for what I feel is the most important part….the weather.

I also realized that I have not used a phone book in a very long time as every number I look up is done on via my I-phone.

I am not really sure what I think about this. It probably does not seem like a big deal to most, but these are things I do with out even thinking about it. I consider myself a thoughtful /conscious individual. I believe that I live my life without guilt or regret, but this “experiment” has really got me thinking……..what else might I actually be missing in life that I'm not even aware of?