Our household consists of my husband, myself, our six cats (!) and four computers.
Yes, that's right. Each of us has a laptop and a desktop computer. In the past, my husband has spent much more time on his computer and watching TV than I have. However, on September 24, I launched a bookselling business on Amazon. (My seller ID is marlaa - check it out! :))
I absolutely love selling books, and it allows me the opportunity to make a connection with thousands of people all over the world, but I do spend more time at the computer than I ever have before. In addition to that, I work full time as an author, so I spend the day working on books and any other writing or editing projects that I've accepted.
Funny thing is, I'm such an active person! I love to be outside, enjoying the gorgeous Texas weather. Nothing thrills me more than taking a brisk walk or run through a nearby park with my husband and examining the display of vivid autumn hues on the trees. We also enjoy playing tennis and hiking. So always being "artificially connected" can pose a challenge to our spiritual, emotional and physical well-being.
To be honest, sometimes my computer feels like a ball and chain. In the evening, I often find myself typing on my computer and I will look over at my husband and he's doing the same thing, and I think, "This is crazy! What's happened?" We love each other so much, and we want to spend time together. Yet sometimes it seems that each of us is living in our own bubble in this virtual world. Sometimes I get the urge to just scrap all four computers and the TV and say, "Let's get REAL! Let's get UNPLUGGED!" We've been married for only five years, and we don't have children yet, so this time is so precious for us. I don't want us to look back over our lives and realize that we missed out on so much because we were watching movies or surfing the net.
All of you couples out there, can you relate? If so, how do you deal with the feeling of always being "plugged in" to the computer and tuned out to each other? Please share some of your some creative ideas about how we can reconnect with our spouses. Blessings!
Darling Wife and I have it worked out nicely I believe. I, the computer geek, she's couldn't turn one on if she were paid handsomely. So it comes down to this: my time to "play" is after I have bathed and bedded down for the night one of the children and she is getting the other ready for bed. After both kids are down computer gets turned off. No computer or T.V. on Sundays for anyone in the house. Now I do manage to get a few "extra minutes" during the day now and again but this arrangement works out quite nicely and forces me out of the office and qipes the blank "computer stare" look off my face! :)
ResponderEliminarEric,
ResponderEliminarThank you so much for sharing this awesome "unplugging" strategy! You're right - we need to make a pact to turn off everything in the evening so we have some together time. Great thoughts! I'm glad you and your wife have come up with such a workable plan and that you were willing to share it with us!
Blessings-
Marla