Metropolis life
Information addiction
Mental exhaustion
Far from media
Pockets of silence are found
Centeredness restored
Do you ever feel like you are addicted to information? Like you just can’t get enough? Do you ever feel like your brain is about to explode with all the information that is available to us now-a-day? I do.
Media is nothing new. It’s been around for many years. The first alphabet is over 3000 years old. Over time though, it has greatly advanced. From the first printing press to modern digital technology, where one can create, upload, and share information with people all over the world.
The internet has drastically changed the way we receive information. Not just the source, but the speed at which we do. With this though, I find myself obtaining way more information than I need, with a continual thirst for more.
The above poem was inspired by a message I heard at an Anglican church two Sundays ago. I absolutely loved it and couldn’t help but meditate on it more. Below are a few quotes from it:
- “Mediated boredom doesn’t allow us time to think.”
- “Unmediated disconnect opens doors for creativity.”
- “Come to God the creator and be re-created through rest.”
The times I’m most at peace are when I’m ‘disconnected’. The times I most create are when I’m ‘disconnected’. The times that I’m most at rest mentally and spiritually are when I’m ‘disconnected’ and in my secret place with Him.
How about you? Do you consider yourself to be addicted to information. Do you find it overwhelming? Do you think that it can hinder personal creativity? Do you ever ‘disconnect’ and allow yourself time for un-mediated thought?
stacilys.wordpress.com 
I think I am addicted to information, but it doesn’t overwhelm me, nor do I feel like it hinders my creativity. For me, it fuels creativity, especially in regards to blogging. The more information I obtain throughout the day, whether via the internet, through observation, etc. the more inspired I feel to write. 🙂
I hear you there. I don’t think that information totally hinders creativity. Like you, I can benefit from it. However, I find that when I’m away from it and am able to think and reflect, the creative juices seem to flow more. At least when it comes to poetry or song-writing.
I must confess though, I could never see myself without the internet. It’s somewhat of a need for these times, don’t you think?
Thanks for sharing Kylie.
🙂
I think perhaps I am more addicted to sharing information, whether it be in the form of images, video, sound, the written word.
Hmmmmm, interesting. I’m very interested in sharing information. More like my thoughts though. I don’t feel the need to share stuff from others. Unless it really impacts me, or I think another could truly benefit from it.
Thanks for sharing.
🙂
I would agree, there is occasion for it. but i find the concept of creating individualism through sharing the work of others to be a bit hypocritical. #hipster
I don’t understand. What do you mean?
🙂
I love this. That’s why I made my new little space. 🙂 I did a technology challenge with my mentor a little bit ago and it was really interesting. These little pockets are important. ❤ ❤ ❤
Wonderful to hear from you Laurie. And I am so with you on the pockets thing. So VERY important.
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🙂 This post made me smile lots.
Awwwwww, I’m so glad. Thank you so much Laurie.
🙂
I find it hard to put things away. Yes, I fight the addiction.
Tell me about it. Sometimes it feels like my head is so full of information on one specific subject, and then I click on something like pinterest and there are 1,000,000 other articles on the same subject. Many times I end up not retaining much of it. Argh.
I’m back from my Canada trip now Mark. Just wondering how you and your fam are doing. How are things?
🙂
Kylie is doing really well right now. She hit a fighting stride and we needed that. Learning to walk again now and that is going good. We hope to be ready to do some form of school in a few weeks. Still a long way to go, but the chemo is working. Thanks for asking and welcome home.
Ohhhhh, that’s great Mark. So glad to hear that. I’ve received some sad news from two past friends recently so it’s great to hear something positive happening in your world.
🙂
We are so badly addicted to this Social Media and Internet that we just avoid our family and friends…to be on computers or cellphones…I try to avoid stay connected as much as I can…I have fixed timings…Either I will be on net in the morning or in the evening…and that too for some specific time…I convey that to my family too…give me one or two hours I will be back…if you will keep disturbing me it will slow down my job and thn I have to sit for another two three hours…well that is my mantra to stay connected and disconnected 🙂
Good to see you on my Readers Page after so long Staci…
I hear you loud and clear Aarya. I know that when I first started my blog, my husband spoke with me many times about how I’m spending too much time on it. The immense romance of it all has died down and I’ve been able to be more balanced now with it and with the internet in general.
Thank you so much for your care and attention Aarya. You’re so sweet. I was in Canada for 5 weeks with my family and basically had little time on WordPress. I’m back in full swing now so you’ll be seeing a lot more of me (on my blog and yours 🙂 )
I can’t wait to see you more on my Readers Page…lots Love to you Staci 🙂
You’re so sweet. Thank you so much for your kind words.
🙂
Olá, Staci. Tudo bem?
Adorei o seu poema e o seu post. Eu estava conversando com um colega meu exatamente sobre isso uns dias atrás. Ele estava me dizendo que a internet é a revolução e disse a ele o inverso. Eu disse que a revolução, a contra-cultura, algo que de fato traria grandes mudanças seria a “não-internet”. Disse isso seguindo a linha que você citou no seu texto. O excesso de informação que não nos permite o ócio criativo, o uso excessivo de redes sociais diariamente que não nos deixa cultivar as relações sociais entre muitas outras coisas. Outro ponto também é a nossa percepção megalomaníaca de pensar que só são relevantes atividades onde centenas ou milhares de pessoas estão envolvidas, descartando assim o modelo de influência das pessoas que estão à nossa volta. Acho que muita importância reflexões como esta que você fez.
Parabéns. Grande abraço!
Olá Adriano. Que bom receber seu comentário e muito obrigada. Eu estava em Canadá por 5 semanas e passei pouco tempo no WordPress. A gente está de volta agora e acredite, orando sobre a possibilidade de mudar para BH.
Amei o que você escreveu. Me faz pensar mais profundo ainda sobre o assunto. Achei muito interessante o que você disse: ” O excesso de informação que não nos permite o ócio criativo, o uso excessivo de redes sociais diariamente que não nos deixa cultivar as relações sociais entre muitas outras coisas.” Imagina as gerações que estão crescendo com esta realidade. De não saber como é sem a internet e as redes sociais. Nossa. Vamos ver o que o futuro vai trazer.
Grande abraço e mais uma vez, muito obrigada.
🙂
I get so addicted to info / social media on this stupid phone. I have to force myself to take a break occasionally, in fact I should do that more often, otherwise it gets out of control.
I hear you loud and clear Chris. It’s so subtle too. It starts out with just a bit, but then you get sucked in with the plethora of information that’s floating around out there.
Thanks for sharing.
🙂
Timely post. I was discussing these issues with a friend. I cannot function properly without my “me” time- no phones, on internet, no people, just nature perhaps, my journal, and me. I need it everyday.
Wow, I’m so with you there. I really, but really need that time too. It’s when I’m refreshed and most inspired creatively.
Thanks for sharing. I’m on my way over to you now to see your latest posts 🙂
I just returned from 5 weeks in Canada with my family. It was a busy time and I was unable to spend much time on WordPress. Glad to be back.
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Welcome back! 🙂
I don’t know if I’m addicted to it, per se. I find that just about everything that I do requires technology. Scheduling baseball games requires information input and publication, creating music is on my computer, I’m communicating with you via wordpress, I have tablets and computers at work that I depend on. It’s as though we’re willing accomplices with technology, but I don’t crave it like an addiction.
I agree with you about things we do needing technology. I mean, where would be in the western modern world without it, right? We are definitely willing accomplices with technology. 100%. I couldn’t imagine being without it. I do, however, find that seek out information on various subjects now-a-day, so much more than just 10/15 years ago. And with seeking it out, Google, Pinterest, etc offer me a plethora of information in pretty pictures that I find hard to say no to. Then I get overwhelmed and my brain gets exhausted.
Do you think you could live without the internet?
Do you find you are more creative when you can reflect?
Do you need the internet and other avenues of media to produce your best creative work?
🙂
I think that doing without the internet is equivalent to living without a phone. It has become intertwined in our society. So, I WISH I could live without it, but I know that I can’t. I find that I need the reflection time to prepare the road for creativity. It’s my purge time. It’s my mental organizing time. I may create while reflecting, but it’s not always in synchronicity. As far as producing is concerned, in a technical sense, I need my computer when I’m mastering and recording, so yes, I need it to produce. I don’t need the internet or other media to produce songs in the creative sense. I rarely write on anything but an acoustic guitar. That creates the structure to the song and the melody to the song. But that’s all I need. Once I add technology to the process, it often morphs into something much different from the acoustic chords that gave it birth. 🙂
Awesome. That’s just it. The whole idea about disconnecting to connect with the creative self. I totally agree with you about it being nearly impossible to live without the internet. I just find that there is sooooooooooooo much information available to us now, and it’s sooooooo easy to end up wasting tons of time just taking in information. So much so until I’m totally mentally exhausted.
Thanks for sharing this.
🙂
It’s all about balance for me, Staci. Digging potatoes out of the ground and splitting fire wood prior to winter is something that totally disconnects me from the technological world. Of course, sitting on a beach with a book will do the same. No e-books, though. 😉
hahahahaha. I need the ebooks. Unfortunately in Brazil I can’t get good English books. And if I do find them, they’re major expensive.
It’s totally about balance. I struggle with that.
🙂
I haven’t quite figured out how to keep a handle on it all: blogging; tweeting; emailing; Pinterest. The list goes on. And then the ability to quickly search out topics and go down interesting rabbit trails. It is a wealth of riches… but sometimes a bit too much. I am trying to discipline myself.
I’ve started a new exercise regimen this week. This means less time blogging and writing. But there is more to life than social media.
I’ve missed your quiet little corner of the world, Staci. Welcome back.
Hey Kate
Great hearing from you. I’m finally back. It seems like it’s been so long. Just started blogging again yesterday, along with catching up on a ton of other stuff as well. Can’t wait to get over to your blog and see what you’ve been up to.
Way to go on the exercise regimen. I feel absolutely in love with Zumba while in Canada. Have considered getting licensed in it. Will have to see if I’ll be teaching again in the near future though.
You hit the nail on the head with all that you shared about how all the social media and ‘wealth of riches’ gets to be a bit too much. I am a bit of an extremist so it’s absolutely necessary for me to discipline myself. I’m trying.
Thanks for sharing my friend, and thanks for the welcome back.
🙂
Glad to have you back and can relate completely to your post. Summer is a tough blogging season. I’ve also missed your written voice. Glad you’re back.
Your poem is so well done, my friend.
Thanks Audrey. Yea, summer is very tough for blogging. So glad to be back, and thank you for your kind words.
🙂
Staci, Thank you for this thoughtful post. I definitely agree with much of what you say–I try to be very intentional about what kind of and how much information I consume–sometimes more successfully than others. I am surprised, though, as a recovering Luddite, to find myself saying this, but this blogging community is very inspiring for my creativity. That said, I only read a small number of blogs on a frequent basis and I definitely take significant breaks from the computer, etc. Thanks for the thought-provoking piece. xoxo
Hi Chloe, so you’re a recovering Luddite, are you? Interesting 🙂
I’m not against information and technolgy, however I do get overwhelmed by how much there is available to us now-a-day. It’s so easy to get caught up in constantly seeking it out and going overboard.
Thank you so much for sharing. I really appreciate your voice here.
Hugs
Great to see you back, Staci! ❤
There are so many forms of media and information made available to us that it can often be overwhelming trying to access it all. We all need some time away from it all but I've yet to find a way of doing that! 🙂
Hey Heather. Thanks.
Very overwhelming indeed. Sometimes I get caught up in the in the web of clicking on one site, then another, then another… I definitely need time away in order to be at peace and connect with non-technological world.
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“The times I’m most at peace are when I’m ‘disconnected’” the same here. sometimes i just switch off my phone to have some rest. technology is supposed to make life easier, but sometimes it makes it even more complicated. love this post!
I nominated you for the Liebster Award. For more information, check out my blog.
Thank you so much for your kind words and nomination. I’m truly humbled.
“technology is supposed to make life easier, but sometimes it makes it even more complicated.””
–I hear you loud and clear on this one Diana. I confess I don’t know what I’d do without it in my daily life, but somehow I think people of the past (pre-industrialization) probably had a much calmer and simpler life. And definitely more time to breathe and for relationships. hehehe.
Well, I’m off to check out your blog now.
🙂