Unplugged and Okay

What a great weekend it has been.  Camping with the family, spending time with the in-laws, a barbecue with friends, enjoying the great outdoors with them all.  And I managed to spend most of that time "unplugged."  Taking a break from my cellphone, computer, and other electronic devices wasn't as difficult as I feared. 

Media are my livelihood. Movies, TV shows, books (now mostly on Kindle), online sites, and other forms of entertainment are my passion.  I think electronic tools have changed the world for the better, but I also think we all need to balance our digital lives with the non-digital reality around us. 

It's difficult to escape the multimedia universe that pervades almost every aspect of our lives nowadays (as I've previously written), but it certainly can be done. It's a good idea to "get off the grid" once in a while, if only to recognize how dependent our lives have become to technology and to hopefully minimize our vulnerability in the event of any loss of that technology during an unforeseen crisis.

I still embrace tech and preach the mostly positive power of media.  Taking a hiatus from electronics makes me appreciate when I come back to it -- I love all the information at my fingertips and the ability to connect to so many people across such great distances, and the democratic empowerment of New Media cannot be denied.  Yet, a break from technology is also a much-needed retreat, a chance for the mind, body, and soul to refresh.

Thanks once again to all those who gave their lives and dedicated their service to protecting our country and safeguarding our liberties so we can celebrate with loved ones on an amazing weekend such as this.