You Got Mail
Lately, I’ve been feeling like a walking-talking CPU with a stream of wires coming out of me, trailing behind like a dark shadow. I think I’ve taken the definition of being “plugged in” a little too seriously. It’s difficult to find and focus on moments when I’m not staring at a screen and am fully absorbed in something else that doesn’t require a good WiFi connection.
It feels somewhat unnatural to be in this state. The knowledge that human beings were not designed to be constantly staring at screens all day sits heavily on my shoulders as I flip from screen A to B to C on my lavish work desk setup (let’s not even get started on just how much I invested on that electric standing desk that I only sit at). I mean, there is no way that evolution is keeping pace with Apple’s endless stream of new iOS updates that provide me with so many features I had no idea I needed. The impending carpal tunnel in my right hand is yet another silent reminder that it’s time to stop scrolling.
There is no escaping it. Every single job, no matter if you are a consultant, engineer, or even a landscape architect, requires copious amounts of time in front of a screen. Can you imagine trying to come up with the next big idea while sitting in a park looking at birds? Unfortunately, the last time that happened was back in the 17th century with an apple falling from a tree. My entire career currently depends on my ability to sit in front of a screen and move around images on a slide as fast as possible. Thrilling, isn’t it?
We have gotten so used to a fast pace of life. Things that aren’t moving at 100 Mbps are too slow; by default, that means that everything outside of the realm of technology is boring and not stimulating us the way that we are used to. It’s a physical struggle to hit pause and step away from all the 1’s and 0’s. The most yoga I can get in is an occasional downward dog when I’m stooping down to plug in my charger. Anything else just requires a level of patience that my overly-stimulated mind doesn’t allow me to have.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s all really exciting; a mirror that can guide your workouts, voice-controlled lights, and machines that 3D print whatever you want. There is no going back now. Tech is now essential for our survival and pushing the boundaries of what humans are capable of achieving. There will always be technology and innovation completely out of my understanding and reach. So, as I run from room to room struggling to get a good network connection, I realize that while I may complain about how plugged in I am, this is very much the future and I am very much a part of it.
