A Cautious Step Forward

Image by Steve & Sara Emry

I’m reluctantly back.

A few days from now will mark a month since I declared myself officially “offline” for the remainder of the year. I swore off continual Twitter updates, Facebook status changes, and reflections on my blog.

It was a much needed break - probably more needed than I fully realized when I made the declaration. A technological sabbath that brought me to a good spot, albeit by the back door.

I didn’t miss it. It’s hard for me to fathom that it has been nearly a month - it hasn’t felt it.

I spent more time reading (I finished four books over the last couple of weeks of the year), laughing with family, and putting a little perspective behind how I behave online.

It’s no coincidence that I finished reading Flickering Pixels by Shane Hipps during my break. Great book and an easy read (I’d add ‘must read’ for anyone who deals heavily in technology by career or by choice). Coupled with a sense of false loneliness I felt when I began to withdraw at the beginning, his words helped me to see what can far too easily be the hallow intimacy/community we feed ourselves by diving too far off the deep end of technology.

Technology affects us. I don’t think we realize how much when we are knee-deep into it.

So I stand here, with some reluctance, trying to decide where I now stand. I’m back, but my patterns will have to be different. I’m not sure what that looks like, but I know that some of my interactions in this space feed others & myself. It’s a balancing act that will have to include scheduled times of sabbath.

Posted 01.07.2010

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