"Shutting Down"

I can't help but keep going back to the part of class that we were talking about being able to disconnect from the digital world at the end of the day and how hard that really is. 

The first thing that I do is wake up to the alarm clock, power up my blackberry (have to turn it off at night so I don't have "alerts" waking me) and check the weather.  My husband turns on TSN to see if he's missed anything from the late night highlights that he watched mere hours before.  I then pick up the phone and call a friend that I work with who I have talked to the night before and will be talking to during work as well.  Shortly after I jump into my "loaded" vehicle that has gadgets I still don't know what to do with (the car is a 3 years old) and call my husband on bluetooth who I have spoken to a mere 1/2 hour before.  I sit with some co-workers having our morning coffee, texting my friend who is on leave or my sister in the states while continuing to rant about the amount of work that the week has to offer.  The day is spent using all forms of technology with the students.  My after work drive is the same as my drive to work.  Once at home, I get my dogs ready for their walk and put on their training collars which too by the way are remote control operated (no I am not using shock therapy on my dogs. lol).  Did I mention that I take my blackberry to make any phone calls, texts or e-mails that I need to clear up so I can spend a quiet evening at home.  When I get home and supper is being prepared, I am sure to have the t.v. on so I don't miss anything from the entertainment world.  The evening consists of either talking on the phone with a friend, while texting to another and trying to do my university coursework on the laptop with the t.v. going on in the background.  When it's finally time for bed, I check the weather one more time to see what tomorrow's weather is going to be and then I finally "power down".  Does this sound at all familiar?  Maybe all, except for the part of "shutting down" at night's end?

I can't help but wonder, what this is doing to us as a human being?  We all know how important a good nights sleep is and I wonder if we are so stimulated by technology throughout our day, how can our bodies really shut down?  How do we block out all of the voices we have heard through out the day and all of the other forms of communications we have had with others?

I was once taught an ancient Hawaiian ritual where at the end of the day you have to visualize severing  a cord that is around you and each person you have been in communication with during that day so you can have a restful sleep.  Wondering if now this is what we are going to have to do as a society so we don't burn out.  Ha! Also wondering if they will make an "app" for that!