She told a funny story about how she went on a trip with her family, including her married kids and grandkids. She said in the car on the way there she downloaded a new game to her phone. She got so caught up in it, that she spent every spare moment of the trip playing it, and sat in the car during one activity to keep playing while everyone else went in together! She even got all of her kids to download it on to their phones so they could try to top each others' scores. It didn't dawn on her how bad it had gotten until they were all sitting at dinner on the last night of their trip, and she looked around and everyone who had a phone was playing the game instead of talking to each other. She felt so sad that she had wasted a good portion of the undivided time she could have had with her family.
So now they quote Pres. Uchtdorf every time they are paying more attention to their digital devices than each other and ask..."Are you in your heartless chamber of isolation?" It was kind of a funny story, because she is a pretty charismatic person. It has become a little catch-phrase in our ward now. So I just had to laugh a couple of days ago when I looked up and this is what I saw: Brooke reading her Nook (electronic book reader), Megan using the iPad, Danika on my laptop, and Mike looking at Netflix on the TV! All in the same room, but each in their own "chamber of isolation." GUILTY! And even though I'm not in the picture, I am the worst one of all!!!
p.s. do you like our dog kennel "entertainment center?" lol :)
That's funny, but kinda sad too. We all need to take a look at our lives and see if we live in isolation even though we are all together. I'm know the answer: YES!
ReplyDeleteNice story Heather! In our family technology is the thing that keeps us together across the divide.... we are so rarely in the same building, town or even state together. Luckily we have technology or I'd crack!
ReplyDeleteI have appreciated our current house and it's remote nature... cell phones DO NOT work here and I LOVE IT! No texting from room to room, no spending countless hours on the phones. No service! lol
As for your picture, I missed seeing the tv for at least a minute. At first I thought you were all sitting around the dog kennel. LOL
As for Heartless Chamber of Isolation, I think Trix has it the worst, especially if she is locked in the entertainment center of attention ... without an electronic device of her own. How can she see the doggies on tv? Maybe she could get an ipod hooked up in there with surround sound of animals. ;)
Laters,
Elisabeth
Lol Elisabeth! Thanks for your perspective--technology CAN be helpful, for sure. Especially in your case. And Trixie rarely ever has to stay in the "entertainment center." :)
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