The Frugal Life and Technology
Sitting on the park bench with Husband, waiting for the arrival of a special family of friends, I couldn't help but notice another family seated close by. A father, mother and two young boys were patiently waiting for the festivities of the day to begin. What caught my attention was that for the half an hour we all waited, this mother, unknown to me, spent all the time engrossed in her cell phone. Father and sons sat quietly watching the crowds as was I.
Scanning the crowd of families, I noticed that many of the groups in the area had members plugged into something technological. Cellphones to ear or in the palm of the hand, iPods connecting wearers to some other place or action, I couldn't help but think that perhaps these park goers might be missing out on the pleasure of the moment with the people by their sides. Have you ever tried to hold a conversation with someone listening to an iPod?
Certainly I realize that the young mother in view could be writing her shopping list or taking an opportunity to check her email. Maybe she was texting of all the joys of her dear boys to her mother who lives far away. This may just have been a much needed break in her action. Still it seemed to me she was missing an opportunity to be living fully in the life around her.
Perhaps it is just my season of life, with only one child left home, more man than boy, that makes me sensitive to the impact of technology on this generation. The years pass quickly and so many things will choke the time we have if we are not careful. Television was the bane of my younger years and I would love to get back the many hours spent watching the world instead of living in my world.
Recently I heard a story about someone's visit home for Thanksgiving. Not thinking it necessary to bring his cellphone to the table, he soon realized that his fellow table mates were all communicating to each other by texting on their cellphone! Imagine instead of conversing and interacting by smile and tongue to those close by, the conversation was being handled by fingers! An extreme example I am sure, but still I think we should take time to evaluate our dependence on our machines.
For me as well, the minutes can quickly evaporate when I sit at the computer. I am so grateful for frugal blogs and those who share not only their information but lessons learned. The camaraderie that sweetens the process is so helpful to successfully living the frugal life. Yet, thinking about this one day I realized that what was on the screen required action. There still was yogurt to make and bread to bake. The virtual world is appealing and holds many a blessing, but the frugal life makes sure I am out of my seat and on my feet!
I realize that I am from another generation. My cellphone only receives and makes calls. (It can take pictures but they do not turn out well and besides that is what I use a camera for.) I do not have an iPod. Now, I must admit when weeding in the yard or walking for exercise the thought of an iPod is appealing. Yet, my budget and my heart say no to this priority. And I have found that an old hymn book by my side as I weed, and scripture written on index cards stuffed in my pocket as I walk, not only are frugal, but keep my mind in check.
Yes, the frugal life has many a benefit. Some are not as easily seen as others. Living a life which requires careful thought and even some "sweat equity" can keep us from being overtaken by the temptation to live our lives on screen and through airwaves.
Postscript: Lest you think I share from a position of having this area in check, Youngest Son and I were working side by side. I was engrossed in a project and sitting in front of the computer screen. He found it difficult to get my attention and finally in his humorous and kind way made reference to the article I had just written. Sigh, I too am still in process.
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4 Responses to “The Frugal Life and Technology”
July 28th, 2011 at 8:50 am
Oh, I agree with it all. I 31 years old and have grown up with much of this technology and while I love the internet, I don’t have an ipod, iphone or any of those devices. I have started to limit my internet time even and don’t do facebook. Anyway, it’s sad to me how impersonal we’ve become with technology. I think the irony is people think they have more “friends” because they “talk” to many via texting or over the internet but true friendship and family relationships aren’t being as developed.
July 28th, 2011 at 10:36 am
I am glad to see that there are others that think the same as me. I love Technology, the internet, Twitter and Facebook they have unlimited potential and most certainly will be the source of our economy even more in the future. But I am so sick of people and their Smart Phones,Cell phones Texting and all that crap. People driving with their phone glued to their ear endanger all of us. I have to laugh, but am irritated by people who seem to want to share their conversations with all of us by yelling into their phone in public places. Or are so rude as to disregard us in the middle of a conversation to answer their phone. Grrrrrrr…. I want to grab their phone and throw it up against the wall, give us a break !
July 29th, 2011 at 9:17 am
For me…this message is near and dear to my heart; and for today, very timely. Thank you. Pat
July 30th, 2011 at 12:11 am
I agree with this article and try to spend as much time living life as possible. I have a standard cell phone to make and receive calls only(no text) and I only turn it on when I am walking doing my errands to the grocery store etc(I walk don’t have a car). When I get back home the cell phone gets turned off, if I go out with my son or bf and can’t be reached oh, well…they can leave a message on my home phone.
I love Technology, the internet and am a member of Facebook and chat with my mom on there and my friends. The time I spend on line each day is mostly working from home so I need to have my computer. I spend as much time as I need on line and then I get off line and do other things.
Oh, and I clean the house.
I also enjoy making home made goodies bread etc, and have a yogurt maker and enjoy cooking from scratch. Also plan on doing some home canning this fall. I fill my days with cooking, reading books, sewing,crochet…lots of things you can do during the day away from the computer.
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