There’s been a lot written about our relationship with technology over the past few years, so it’s hard to come up with a new angle. But I thought the new book Digital Exhaustion, by Paul Leonardi, offered some intriguing ways of thinking about this topic.
I interviewed Paul for the Before Breakfast podcast yesterday. He talked about how technology is wonderful, but switching between lots of different applications can drain energy, as does the need to check lots of different places. But in many cases, we can choose to use fewer applications. On the personal front, most applications are optional! But even at work, many people discover that they are using duplicate technologies, and could as a team decide to narrow this down. Please check out that interview for some suggestions on how to reclaim technology as a tool, rather than having it be a master.
And in the meantime, here’s another autumnal sonnet, called “Minnewaska.”
I’ve walked these paths before when autumn leaves
were also swirling — beeches, chestnuts, pines
that scatter needles — when the red that weaves
through cliff top ridges lit up sandstone lines.
Four years ago, the memory is clear.
I see us posing for those photos, smiles.
But 16 years? I know that I was here.
I know that as I walked these many miles
I saw these cliffs, they’ve barely changed since then,
but children who were carried now are grown.
The farm still sells those apples in a bin,
and now a pumpkin, standing all alone,
is marking days, and waiting for the cold,
and watching as the changing light burns gold.
This is an especially good sonnet!! You captured a lot of emotions about the passing of time!
@Lisa – thanks, glad you liked it!
I’ve actually just reached out to Prof. Paul Leonardi to ask all of the questions I have for him.
I actually noticed that you wrote in your recent blog post “How to love your inbox”: “Everyone loves to complain about email. But it truly is a marvelous invention.” It makes me think if Prof. Paul Leonardi, too, belongs to the “Everyone” that you’re referring to, Ms. Laura Vanderkam.
I have just come to realize that you have written sonnets for each and every one of the four seasons, Ms. Laura Vanderkam.
I agree with Lisa- beautiful sonnet Laura! Love the line “but children who were carried now are grown”. And sounds like an interesting book. Digital exhaustion is a good description. I’m trying to spend more time away from my phone/laptop more often, as that’s the feeling I’m getting lately.
@Sophie – thanks! And yes, it’s an interesting concept. The idea is not to get rid of tech but to manage it in a way that’s more positive, which it completely can be. I mean this is how we all communicate!
That sonnet really resonated with me. Thank you for sharing it.