Listening to the silence

I heard a commentary this week on the radio.  It was about how two major cities in Canada (Montreal and Toronto) are going to be spending millions and millions of dollars (50 millions in fact) in order to wire their subway system to the internet.  Soon, underground travelers will be able to access their phones, email messages, social media etc... from under the ground.

Pretty mind boggling when you think of it.  Millions of dollars being spent.....  on that.....

I know that money speaks in the business world.  I know that the internet is important and that it is not going away.

I'm the first to admit that I can't really remember what I did before the internet was alive.  In fact, Mr Right often comments that I should leave my blackberry behind once in awhile; that I should really just put the computer away and not bother with it for a few days.... (yes, a few days....YIKES)!

For the phone comment, I always reply that it is a safety net for me and my son.  I feel better being available at all times to my still minor son.  When he becomes an adult and is on his own well then I can see myself letting go of the phone.....  I think.... *sigh*.

Mr Right's comment last night was 'then why do you need a blackberry, just get a cheaper plan for texts only'.  How dare him talk about my blackberry like that!  lol.

Thing is, what he doesn't know is that when I first got into the world of cell phones, I had fun with them.  I spent a lot of times figuring them out and now, I'm known for being pretty techy (and perhaps a bit nerdy).  I'm able and be able to figure out lots of techy stuff on the computer or the phones. 

I've often caught myself in the past, when I was dating (see my other blog: http://alifelongpartner.blogspot.ca/ ) saying 'I prefer my relationship with my blackberry than the ones I'm having with the dates I'm going on.  I know that it's a pretty sad statement but hey....the phone was there for me when I was bored at home (and sometimes bored on a date......I made it ring to leave the date a few times).  Anyways, that's another story....

All that to say that I love the internet, the tech world and that I'm entertained by it.  However, I'm not so sure that spending 50 million dollars on a wifi upgrade in subway stations should be a priority. 

You see, Mr Right is teaching me in his own way to live in the moment and to not rely on technology so much.  I'm not sure if Mr Right even realizes that he is teaching me this.....but he is.  He has no cell phones (and I like it like that).  He has an ipod and he does have a computer but he's not too vocal in social medias and he doesn't express himself often through emails.  He uses the phone or face to face.  I love this about him.

On the other hand, if something goes wrong in his technological world, his girlfriend can get him out of it....HA!

One thing for sure, there is definitely something to be said about being alone with your thoughts.  Having no internet access, no phone and no technological distractions is not all that bad.  It's a bit weird at first for those of us who use it regularly but I strongly suspect that it would not be so bad to disconnect and to stay disconnected for a certain period of time. 

I can't imagine that being connected for your subway ride will make that much of a difference for most people.  Fifty million dollars??  C'mon now!

I fear that people are losing the ability to be by themselves, alone with their thoughts.  It's a sad loss.....

I'm not saying I want to ban wifi and the internet, I'm saying we need to find a better balance with it.  Me included.

It's going to come for me and I will find that balance.  I hope more people realizes the importance of listening to their thoughts and yes, to listening to the silence around them at times.  It's really not all that bad.....

Signed yours truly, still connected but trying to break the ties.....

SSW :)