Quick Knights Event Summary- not released
Knights of Columbus hosting a Family Fun “Haiti” Fund Raising Event at Harmony Square
Date: 28th Feb
Place: Harmony Square
Time: from 130pm-430pm
Fund Raising event will feature a “Family” skating event...theme
With funds raised going direct to Haiti orphanages
Tax receipts will be provided
International Village Ambassadors participating with
Universities
Colleges
High Schools
Other
K. of C ...inviting Mayor, MP, MPP
Opening Ceremony scheduled for 2pm
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Put a smile on your face
How many of these can you smile about ?
Murphy's Real Laws, Part I
1. Everyone has a photographic memory. Some don't have film.
2. He who laughs last, thinks slowest.
3. A day without sunshine is like, well, night.
4. Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.
5. Back up my hard drive? How do I put it in reverse?
6.I just got lost in thought. It was unfamiliar territory.
7. When the chips are down, the buffalo is empty.
8. Seen it all, done it all. Can't remember most of it.
9. Those who live by the sword get shot by those who don't.
10. I feel like I'm diagonally parked in a parallel universe.
11. He's not dead. He's electroencephalographically challenged.
12. She's always late. In fact, her ancestors arrived on the "Juneflower."
13. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted and used against you.
14. I wonder how much deeper the ocean would be without sponges.
15. Honk if you love peace and quiet.
16. Pardon my driving, I'm reloading.
17. Despite the cost of living, have you noticed how it remains so popular?
Murphy's Real Laws, Part II
18. Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool.
19. It is hard to understand how a cemetery can raise its burial costs and blame it on the higher cost of living.
20. Just remember if it wasn't for gravity, we'd all fall off.
21. The 50-50-90 rule: Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there's a 90% probability you'll get it wrong.
22. It is said that if you line up all the cars in the world end to end, someone would be stupid enough to try and pass them.
23. You can't have everything. Where would you put it?
24. Latest survey shows that 3 out of 4 people make up 75% of the world population.
25. If the shoe fits, get another one just like it.
26. The things that come to those that wait may be the things left by those who got there first.
27. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will sit in a boat all day drinking.
28. Flashlight: A case for holding dead batteries.
29. The shin bone is a device for finding furniture.
30. A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well.
31. It was recently discovered that research causes cancer in rats.
32. Everybody lies, but it doesn't matter since nobody listens.
33.I wished the buck stopped here, as I could use a few.
34. I started out with nothing, and I still have most of it.
35. When you go into court, you are putting yourself in the hands of 12 people who weren't smart enough to get out of jury duty.
36. Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
19. It is hard to understand how a cemetery can raise its burial costs and blame it on the higher cost of living.
20. Just remember if it wasn't for gravity, we'd all fall off.
21. The 50-50-90 rule: Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there's a 90% probability you'll get it wrong.
22. It is said that if you line up all the cars in the world end to end, someone would be stupid enough to try and pass them.
23. You can't have everything. Where would you put it?
24. Latest survey shows that 3 out of 4 people make up 75% of the world population.
25. If the shoe fits, get another one just like it.
26. The things that come to those that wait may be the things left by those who got there first.
27. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will sit in a boat all day drinking.
28. Flashlight: A case for holding dead batteries.
29. The shin bone is a device for finding furniture.
30. A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well.
31. It was recently discovered that research causes cancer in rats.
32. Everybody lies, but it doesn't matter since nobody listens.
33.I wished the buck stopped here, as I could use a few.
34. I started out with nothing, and I still have most of it.
35. When you go into court, you are putting yourself in the hands of 12 people who weren't smart enough to get out of jury duty.
36. Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
--
Hollecrest & Associates Inc -"Turnaround Consultants" http://www.ic.gc.ca/ccc/search/cp?l=eng&e=123456239975 .
Back to Eden communities
Sunridge -261 Oakhill Drive, Brantford
backtoeden.ontario@gmail.com
www.backtoeden.bravehost.com
"Building elder peer communities that are cozy,caring and comfortable" -quality 24/7 care
Monday, February 08, 2010
A Message by George Carlin 'Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.'
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
Sunday, February 07, 2010
Keep it simple and enjoy life
Livin' Can Be Easy - 10 Simple Steps to Live Simply
Like most of us these days, it seems to be more and more difficult to take time out to smell the roses along the way. The days are so full, it's hard enough to manage the things we have to do, let alone find time for ourselves.
Here are a few tips that may help simplify things a bit for you:
1. Cease the clutter - Having too much stuff requires energy and time to maintain and can be a huge drain on your energy level. Consider letting go of the items either by donating, discarding or selling.
2. Say goodbye to catalogs - Do you really need all those catalogs coming in? Tear off your mailing label, attach to an index card and write, "please remove me from your list" and mail to catalog holders.
3. Eliminate junk mail - Request to be "removed" from any list by writing your name and address and sending to: Mail Preference Service, DMA, PO Box 9008, Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008
4. Stop credit card offers - Call Trans Union at (888) 567-8688. Opt out for two years, or permanently. Since they share information with Experian and Equifax, you do not have to duplicate your request.
5. Automatic billing - Notify your individual creditors or go directly to your banking institution to set up automatic withdrawals monthly.
6. Consolidate debt - Devise a plan to attach that debt! Consolidate all your credit cards to make one payment. Come up with a budget. Talk to a financial advisor. Take the steps necessary to face your debt head on - it's a huge stress factor and emotional drain, but once addressed, you will start to feel better.
7. Prioritize projects - Make a list of what needs to be done first and the time frames for completion. Conquer the little ones first so you can begin to reap the rewards of satisfaction to keep you motivated. Remember, baby steps first!
8. Reduce information overload - What magazine and newspaper subscription can you cut back on? Give your brain a break. Consider cutting down and focusing on just what you need to find out - this pertains to Web surfing, as well.
9. Be spontaneous - Being spontaneous once in a while can be a good thing. Releasing a little control can energize you and raise your spirits. It's a great way to break the everyday routine and add a little fun into your life again.
10. Find peace - Having a place to go to for your down time is important. Find a spot that you feel at peace and can relate to as your own private sanctuary., Mediate, have a cup of tea or simply do nothing. Just relax.
========
Patricia Diesel, author of "A Simple Guide to an Organized Life" and founder of Keep It
--
Here are a few tips that may help simplify things a bit for you:
1. Cease the clutter - Having too much stuff requires energy and time to maintain and can be a huge drain on your energy level. Consider letting go of the items either by donating, discarding or selling.
2. Say goodbye to catalogs - Do you really need all those catalogs coming in? Tear off your mailing label, attach to an index card and write, "please remove me from your list" and mail to catalog holders.
3. Eliminate junk mail - Request to be "removed" from any list by writing your name and address and sending to: Mail Preference Service, DMA, PO Box 9008, Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008
4. Stop credit card offers - Call Trans Union at (888) 567-8688. Opt out for two years, or permanently. Since they share information with Experian and Equifax, you do not have to duplicate your request.
5. Automatic billing - Notify your individual creditors or go directly to your banking institution to set up automatic withdrawals monthly.
6. Consolidate debt - Devise a plan to attach that debt! Consolidate all your credit cards to make one payment. Come up with a budget. Talk to a financial advisor. Take the steps necessary to face your debt head on - it's a huge stress factor and emotional drain, but once addressed, you will start to feel better.
7. Prioritize projects - Make a list of what needs to be done first and the time frames for completion. Conquer the little ones first so you can begin to reap the rewards of satisfaction to keep you motivated. Remember, baby steps first!
8. Reduce information overload - What magazine and newspaper subscription can you cut back on? Give your brain a break. Consider cutting down and focusing on just what you need to find out - this pertains to Web surfing, as well.
9. Be spontaneous - Being spontaneous once in a while can be a good thing. Releasing a little control can energize you and raise your spirits. It's a great way to break the everyday routine and add a little fun into your life again.
10. Find peace - Having a place to go to for your down time is important. Find a spot that you feel at peace and can relate to as your own private sanctuary., Mediate, have a cup of tea or simply do nothing. Just relax.
========
Patricia Diesel, author of "A Simple Guide to an Organized Life" and founder of Keep It
--
Friday, February 05, 2010
On change and renewal in life - if we stop growing we start dying
If the Horse Is Dead, Dismount - get used to the facts of life and get over it quickly
"When a thing grows weak and out of date, it is obviously soon going to disappear."1
I recall vividly what a good friend said about her church after she had been away for almost a year because of ill health. She was older so I could understand why she reacted the way she did regarding the new-style music in her church. She was very upset and said that the new group "just couldn't quite make it in Las Vegas." Unfortunately my friend died soon after from cancer. But the conflict regarding music in the church hasn't quite died—yet!
Today, however, I'm not talking about church music. What I am addressing is the need to change when change is necessary. According to Rick Warren, pastor of the Saddleback Community church and author of the book, The Purpose Driven Church, the reason that 95% of all churches in the world never grow past 300 members is because their structure keeps them from growing beyond that point. Quoting today's scripture, he said, "When a thing grows weak and out of date, it is obviously soon going to disappear. That's true of churches, too. If a church cannot change, it will eventually die."
This same principle applies to many areas of life. No, we don't want to make changes where change is not to our advantage, but there are times when we do need to make changes. When it comes to communicating the gospel, while the message itself never changes, our way and means of communicating it have to change in order to communicate effectively to the particular group we are addressing. One size doesn't fit all!
Also, whether we approve or disapprove, many things around us change and if we don't adapt, we get left behind. For instance, marriage partner roles have changed drastically from the days of our parents and grandparents. If a husband still interprets being the head of the home as being the family dictator, he will be doomed for failure (at least here in America and other parts of the world as well). Those old ways (which, by the way, were a misinterpretation of the Bible), have "gone with the wind."
A few years back, Moody Monthly, the highly respected Christian magazine, discontinued its publication after its 103-year history. Why? Because of the economy, the proliferation of Christian magazines, and because of technology. Moody Monthly, like so many other ministries, has had to turn from printed hard copy to electronic means of communication, not only to become more effective in their ministry, but also to survive.
So whether it is in our professional or personal life, let's be open to and willing to change where change is both essential and necessary.
--
Hollecrest & Associates Inc -"Turnaround Consultants" http://www.ic.gc.ca/ccc/search/cp?l=eng&e=123456239975 .
good thinking by Innes dont you agree ?
10 Commandments of Marriage - remember it is all about the truth and the consequences
Smile -take a deep breath -and remember that every day is a gift
10 Commandments of Marriage - remember it is all about truth and consequences
Commandment 1.
Marriages are made in heaven. But so again, are thunder and lightning.
Commandment 2.
If you want your spouse to listen and pay strict attention to every word you say, talk in your sleep.
Commandment 3.
Marriage is grand -- and divorce is at least 100 grand!
Commandment 4.
Married life is very frustrating. In the first year of marriage, the man speaks and the woman listens. In the second year, the woman speaks and the man listens. In the third year, they both speak and the neighbors listen.
Commandment 5.
When a man opens the door of his car for his wife, you can be sure of one thing: Either the car is new or the wife is.
Commandment 6.
Marriage is when a man and woman become as one; the trouble starts when they try to decide which one.
Commandment 7.
Before marriage, a man will lie awake all night thinking about something you said. After marriage, he will fall asleep before you finish talking.
Commandment 8.
Every man wants a wife who is beautiful, understanding, economical, and a good cook. But the law allows only one wife.
Commandment 9.
Every woman wants a man who is handsome, understanding, economical and a considerate lover, but again, the law allows only one husband.
Commandment 10.
Man is incomplete until he marries. After that, he is finished.
--
Hollecrest & Associates Inc .
Back to Eden communities Sunridge -261 Oakhill Drive, Brantford
backtoeden.ontario@gmail.com www.backtoeden.bravehost.com
"Building elder peer communities that are cozy,caring and comfortable" -quality 24/7 care
--
Hollecrest & Associates Inc .
Back to Eden communities Sunridge -261 Oakhill Drive, Brantford
backtoeden.ontario@gmail.com www.backtoeden.bravehost.com
"Building elder peer communities that are cozy,caring and comfortable" -quality 24/7 care
THE SHOE BOMBER- it is right and just
Remember the guy who got on a plane with a bomb built into his shoe
and tried to light it?
Did you know his trial is over?
Did you know he was sentenced?
Did you see/hear any of the judge's comments on TV or Radio?
Didn't think so.!!!
Everyone should hear what the judge had to say.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ruling by Judge William Young, US District Court.
Prior to sentencing, the Judge asked the defendant if he had anything
to say. His response: After admitting his guilt to the court for the
record, Reid also admitted his 'allegiance to Osama bin Laden, to
Islam, and to the religion of Allah,' defiantly stating, 'I think I
will not apologize for my actions,' and told the court 'I am at war
with your country.'
Judge Young then delivered the statement quoted below:
January 30, 2003, United States vs. Reid.
Judge Young:
"Mr. Richard C. Reid, hearken now to the sentence the
Court imposes upon you.
On counts 1, 5 and 6 the Court sentences you to life in prison in the
custody of the United States Attorney General. On counts 2, 3, 4 and
7, the Court sentences you to 20 years in prison on each count, the
sentence on each count to run consecutively. (That's 80 years.)
On count 8 the Court sentences you to the mandatory 30 years again, to
be served consecutively to the 80 years just imposed. The Court
imposes upon you for each of the eight counts a fine of $250,000
that's an aggregate fine of $2 million. The Court accepts the
government's recommendation with respect to restitution and orders
restitution in the amount of $298.17 to Andre Bousquet and $5,784 to
American Airlines.
The Court imposes upon you an $800 special assessment. The Court
imposes upon you five years supervised release simply because the law
requires it. But the life sentences are real life sentences so I need
go no further.
This is the sentence that is provided for by our statutes. It is a
fair and just sentence. It is a righteous sentence.
Now, let me explain this to you. We are not afraid of you or any of
your terrorist co-conspirators, Mr. Reid. We are Americans. We have
been through the fire before. There is too much war talk here and I
say that to everyone with the utmost respect. Here in this court, we
deal with individuals as individuals and care for individuals as
individuals. As human beings, we reach out for justice.
You are not an enemy combatant. You are a terrorist. You are not a
soldier in any war. You are a terrorist. To give you that reference,
to call you a soldier, gives you far too much stature. Whether the
officers of government do it or your attorney does it, or if you think
you are a soldier, you are not----- you are a terrorist. And we do
not negotiate with terrorists. We do not meet with terrorists. We do
not sign documents with terrorists. We hunt them down one by one and
bring them to justice.
So war talk is way out of line in this court. You are a big fellow.
But you are not that big. You're no warrior. I've known warriors.
You are a terrorist. A species of criminal that is guilty of multiple
attempted murders. In a very real sense, State Trooper Santiago had
it right when you first were taken off that plane and into custody and
you wondered where the press and the TV crews were, and he said:
'You're no big deal.'
You are no big deal.
What your able counsel and what the equally able United States
attorneys have grappled with and what I have as honestly as I know how
tried to grapple with, is why you did something so horrific. What was
it that led you here to this courtroom today?
I have listened respectfully to what you have to say. And I ask you to
search your heart and ask yourself what sort of unfathomable hate led
you to do what you are guilty and admit you are guilty of doing? And,
I have an answer for you. It may not satisfy you, but as I search
this entire record, it comes as close to understanding as I know.
It seems to me you hate the one thing that to us is most precious. You
hate our freedom. Our individual freedom. Our individual freedom to
live as we choose, to come and go as we choose, to believe or not
believe as we individually choose. Here, in this society, the very
wind carries freedom. It carries it everywhere from sea to shining
sea. It is because we prize individual freedom so much that you are
here in this beautiful courtroom, so that everyone can see, truly see,
that justice is administered fairly, individually, and discretely. It
is for freedom's sake that your lawyers are striving so vigorously on
your behalf, have filed appeals, will go on in their representation of
you before other judges.
We Americans are all about freedom. Because we all know that the way
we treat you, Mr. Reid, is the measure of our own liberties. Make no
mistake though. It is yet true that we will bear any burden; pay any
price, to preserve our freedoms. Look around this courtroom. Mark it
well. The world is not going to long remember what you or I say here.
The day after tomorrow, it will be forgotten, but this, however, will
long endure.
Here in this courtroom and courtrooms all across America , the
American people will gather to see that justice, individual justice,
justice, not war, individual justice is in fact being done. The very
President of the United States through his officers will have to come
into courtrooms and lay out evidence on which specific matters can be
judged and juries of citizens will gather to sit and judge that
evidence democratically, to mold and shape and refine our sense of
justice.
See that flag, Mr. Reid? That's the flag of the United States of
America . That flag will fly there long after this is all forgotten.
That flag stands for freedom. And it always will.
Mr. Custody Officer. Stand him down."
Court imposes upon you.
On counts 1, 5 and 6 the Court sentences you to life in prison in the
custody of the United States Attorney General. On counts 2, 3, 4 and
7, the Court sentences you to 20 years in prison on each count, the
sentence on each count to run consecutively. (That's 80 years.)
On count 8 the Court sentences you to the mandatory 30 years again, to
be served consecutively to the 80 years just imposed. The Court
imposes upon you for each of the eight counts a fine of $250,000
that's an aggregate fine of $2 million. The Court accepts the
government's recommendation with respect to restitution and orders
restitution in the amount of $298.17 to Andre Bousquet and $5,784 to
American Airlines.
The Court imposes upon you an $800 special assessment. The Court
imposes upon you five years supervised release simply because the law
requires it. But the life sentences are real life sentences so I need
go no further.
This is the sentence that is provided for by our statutes. It is a
fair and just sentence. It is a righteous sentence.
Now, let me explain this to you. We are not afraid of you or any of
your terrorist co-conspirators, Mr. Reid. We are Americans. We have
been through the fire before. There is too much war talk here and I
say that to everyone with the utmost respect. Here in this court, we
deal with individuals as individuals and care for individuals as
individuals. As human beings, we reach out for justice.
You are not an enemy combatant. You are a terrorist. You are not a
soldier in any war. You are a terrorist. To give you that reference,
to call you a soldier, gives you far too much stature. Whether the
officers of government do it or your attorney does it, or if you think
you are a soldier, you are not----- you are a terrorist. And we do
not negotiate with terrorists. We do not meet with terrorists. We do
not sign documents with terrorists. We hunt them down one by one and
bring them to justice.
So war talk is way out of line in this court. You are a big fellow.
But you are not that big. You're no warrior. I've known warriors.
You are a terrorist. A species of criminal that is guilty of multiple
attempted murders. In a very real sense, State Trooper Santiago had
it right when you first were taken off that plane and into custody and
you wondered where the press and the TV crews were, and he said:
'You're no big deal.'
You are no big deal.
What your able counsel and what the equally able United States
attorneys have grappled with and what I have as honestly as I know how
tried to grapple with, is why you did something so horrific. What was
it that led you here to this courtroom today?
I have listened respectfully to what you have to say. And I ask you to
search your heart and ask yourself what sort of unfathomable hate led
you to do what you are guilty and admit you are guilty of doing? And,
I have an answer for you. It may not satisfy you, but as I search
this entire record, it comes as close to understanding as I know.
It seems to me you hate the one thing that to us is most precious. You
hate our freedom. Our individual freedom. Our individual freedom to
live as we choose, to come and go as we choose, to believe or not
believe as we individually choose. Here, in this society, the very
wind carries freedom. It carries it everywhere from sea to shining
sea. It is because we prize individual freedom so much that you are
here in this beautiful courtroom, so that everyone can see, truly see,
that justice is administered fairly, individually, and discretely. It
is for freedom's sake that your lawyers are striving so vigorously on
your behalf, have filed appeals, will go on in their representation of
you before other judges.
We Americans are all about freedom. Because we all know that the way
we treat you, Mr. Reid, is the measure of our own liberties. Make no
mistake though. It is yet true that we will bear any burden; pay any
price, to preserve our freedoms. Look around this courtroom. Mark it
well. The world is not going to long remember what you or I say here.
The day after tomorrow, it will be forgotten, but this, however, will
long endure.
Here in this courtroom and courtrooms all across America , the
American people will gather to see that justice, individual justice,
justice, not war, individual justice is in fact being done. The very
President of the United States through his officers will have to come
into courtrooms and lay out evidence on which specific matters can be
judged and juries of citizens will gather to sit and judge that
evidence democratically, to mold and shape and refine our sense of
justice.
See that flag, Mr. Reid? That's the flag of the United States of
America . That flag will fly there long after this is all forgotten.
That flag stands for freedom. And it always will.
Mr. Custody Officer. Stand him down."
So, how much of this Judge's comments did we hear on our TV sets? We
need more judges like Judge Young. Pass this around. Everyone should
and needs to hear what this fine judge had to say. Powerful words that
strike home..
Friday, January 29, 2010
Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit
Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit 
Choose the Windows 7 edition that is best for you
| Windows 7 Home Premium | Windows 7 Professional | Windows 7 Ultimate | |
| Make the things you do every day easier with improved desktop navigation. | * | * | * |
| Start programs faster and more easily, and quickly find the documents you use most often. | * | * | * |
| Make your web experience faster, easier and safer than ever with Internet Explorer 8. | * | * | * |
| Watch, pause, rewind, and record TV on your PC. | * | * | * |
| Easily create a home network and connect your PCs to a printer with HomeGroup. | * | * | * |
| Run many Windows XP productivity programs in Windows XP Mode. | * | * | |
| Connect to company networks easily and more securely with Domain Join. | * | * | |
| In addition to full-system Backup and Restore found in all editions, you can back up to a home or business network. | * | * | |
| Help protect data on your PC and portable storage devices against loss or theft with BitLocker. | * | ||
| Work in the language of your choice and switch between any of 35 languages. | * |
Windows 7 Ultimate gives you everything Home Premium and Professional offers – plus added security features and the flexibility to work in multiple languages. Create a home network and share all of your favorite photos, videos and music. You can even watch TV programs for free, whenever and wherever you want.
Reasons to buy
- Help prevent theft or loss of data: Use BitLocker and BitLocker To Go to better protect your valuable files – even on removable drives such as USB devices.
- Automatically back up your files: Protect your data from user error, hardware failure, and other problems. You can back up your files to an external hard drive, secondary hard drive, writable CD or DVD, or to a network location.
- Find virtually anything on your PC – from documents to photos to e-mail: Just click on the Start button, and enter a word or few letters in the name or file you want into the search box, and you'll get an organized list of results.
- Save time and money resolving IT issues: Take advantage of the powerful diagnostics and troubleshooters built into Action Center to resolve many computer problems on your own.
- Get remote services with DirectAccess: Access corporate resources seamlessly when you're on the Internet, without having to initiate a VPN connection.1
- Share files across the various PCs in your home: Use HomeGroup to connect your PCs running Windows 7 to a single printer. Specify exactly what you want to share from each PC with all the PCs in the HomeGroup.
- Connect multiple PCs, with or without a server: Use Domain Join to connect PCs quickly and more securely to your wired or wireless domain network.
- Work in the language of your choice: Switch between any of 35 languages as easily as logging off and back on again.
System requirements
- Processor
- 1GHz or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
- DirectX 9 graphics processor with WDDM 1.0 or later driver.
- 1GB RAM (32-bit) / 2GB RAM (64-bit)
- 16GB available disk space (32-bit) / 20 GB (64-bit)
e3w5ty7
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Good food for thought
Who's In Charge -- You or Your Technology?
Technology is magical and fantastic -- it takes us to places we'll
never go... allows us to reconnect with high school pals or say "I
love you" via text, e-mail, instant message (or all three)... and lets
us watch, again and again, the sweet moments of a child's first piano
recital... and, if you're so inclined, to share them with the world on
Facebook or YouTube.
However, technology also tends to take over our lives, says Daily
Health News contributor and life coach Lauren Zander, noting that all
these devices have complicated much about our lives -- even the
single, simple and supposedly mindless act of relaxing. Watching your
favorite sitcom on TV has turned into an exercise of "hit the mute
button during commercials and do e-mail or text on your laptop or
phone," points out Lauren. Technology blocks our ability to live the
good life by gulping up available time that could, and often should,
be spent on other more productive activities... and by putting up a
barrier that gets in the way of relationships and experiences that
could otherwise be more enriching. Lauren and I discussed how to turn
this around so that we all stay in charge of our technology... and not
the other way around.
Who Has "Free" Time?
Lauren points out that free time is precious, in that it offers a
special opportunity to follow pursuits that make life richer,
including personal exploration or development. But who has time for
these pursuits? "Most people would be embarrassed to admit how many
hours they waste on technology," she said, calling it the "ultimate
distraction" and a "thief of intimacy." The result is that people
often are too busy surfing the Web, returning e-mails and the like, to
be truly present in their relationships. The thriving Internet porn
industry provides an extreme example of how this is so. "The anonymous
nature of Internet porn allows people to let their dark side run
amok," says Lauren. "It is a way for people to think they are happy in
their virtual world and to numb themselves to the disappointments they
experience in their real relationships."
But even those whose online activities are aboveboard fall prey to the
seductive qualities of online communication and social media. Texting
and e-mailing can be easy, straightforward and incredibly efficient
ways to communicate -- but doing so habitually means you end up only
skimming the surface of a relationship. There's no nuance of gesture,
eye contact, tone of voice or physical connection to tell you how
someone really feels. You get only a piece of the interaction, and
it's often the least important part.
Technology also is seductive in how it makes us feel so important and
desired. Responding to the buzz of your cell phone or that ding
announcing that a text message has arrived is -- momentarily, at least
-- far more gratifying then listening to your elderly mother complain
about her sore hip. But, of course, your eager response to the
distraction leaves mom feeling left behind and unimportant.
Occasionally emergencies really do require your attention, but when
such interruptions become a pattern in a relationship, problems are
likely to arise.
Be Here Now
Technology also can rob you of the joy of full engagement. If you're
taking a video of your grandson's first at-bat of the season, your
experience of the moment is restricted to the viewfinder -- forever.
Yes, you capture the moment so that you can enjoy it again and again.
But you'll miss lots, too -- like how your own son is puffed up with
pride (or anxiety), not to mention actually witnessing the richness of
your grandson's performance and relishing your own good feelings about
it. Wouldn't it be better to hand the camera to someone else so that
you can be fully present for what's happening, creating your own
memories that will make the experience all the richer?
Putting the Leash on Technology
Far too many people have fallen into the habit of constantly accepting
the siren call of communication tools and technology. To keep that
from happening -- or to stop the habit if you are already addicted --
requires setting rules, says Lauren. This will "put a leash on the
problem so technology serves you without stealing all of your life."
She has several simple suggestions...
Assess exactly how much time you are devoting to technology and for
what purposes. What is necessary, satisfying and life-enhancing...
what is just killing time? What more rewarding activities could you be
doing with that time instead? Lauren admits that she recently realized
that she was no longer reading books -- just e-mails, reports and
other online content. "Reading feeds creativity and imagination and
I've always loved it, but I hadn't read a single book in two years!
The problem wasn't how busy my children keep me. It was that I had
turned my free time over to my laptop -- doing e-mails and surfing the
Internet," she says.
Be mindful of what's really happening. Remember that your life is not
a photo album or a movie -- those are mementos, not the point. If
you're spending time with your family, turn off the technology and
enjoy yourselves.
Set limits on how and when you use technology -- and respect those
limits. Lauren calls this an issue of integrity. Technology can become
an addiction that makes it easy to avoid thinking about real
challenges, such as a troubled relationship or an unhappy work
situation. It provides a reason to avoid time with the person or
problem that might resolve the issue.
To restore balance, you might decide family meals are sacrosanct (no
phone interruptions allowed)... or leave all laptops at home when you
go on vacation... or take no text messages except when you are at work
-- what, when and how much is up to you and your family. What's
important, however, is that you stick to the limits you set... because
you value your real life most of all.
Lauren reminds us that when it comes to technology, we need to
remember who's the boss. You don't work for it -- it works for you.
Use your gadgets with this in mind, and they will indeed be useful and
life-enhancing.
Source(s):
Lauren Zander, life coach and founder, The Handel Group, www.handelgroup.com.
--
Hollecrest & Associates Inc -"Turnaround Consultants"
http://www.ic.gc.ca/ccc/search/cp?l=eng&e=123456239975 .
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