Disconnect to Reconnect

     As the weather is starting to warm up and the days are getting longer this is the time of the year where we need to get out and get some fresh air and sunshine. Unfortunately though with all the busyness of life we tend to use our down time to go on our phones and play games or scroll through social media and we call this “relaxing”. The problem with this is that research is showing that the more you use your phone for downtime the higher the chance of depression. In our world of technology we begin to lose sight of what it means to be human. We were designed to live in this world around us. Our bodies need fresh air, sunlight, exercise and good food. On top of that we are also a social animal. We need to have human interaction. Even the most introverted person needs to have human interaction to sustain mental health. What we are seeing more and more now though is that we escape into our phones and play games or scroll through social media. We sit at home and watch TV. We become, essentially, hermits.

     I heard it said not long ago that humans have essentially become cyborgs. At first glance that statement seems preposterous but dig deep into that idea and really think about it. We have a cell phone on us at all times. That cell phone is always connected to the internet. We have a question about something and we use google on our phones and 5 seconds later we have an answer. We need directions to go somewhere we open up our phones and map it out and we have instant directions. We instantly text people in our network and connect with them. We have an endless amount of information at our finger tips. With this connectivity we have become cyborgs and are losing our humanity. We are exercising less, we are not socializing as much, we are becoming more and more reclusive, and we are losing a sense of community with our neighbors.

     We need to disconnect to reconnect to our humanity. Sunlight, fresh air, exercise, good food, good friends and no cell phones; this is the recipe for health and happiness. So as the weather is warming up and we are getting a chance to get out of our isolated state, it is time to go for a walk with a significant other or friend. It is time to go camping. It is time to take the kids to the park. It is time to have a picnic. It is time to go for a run outside. It is time to play a game of golf with some friends. All of this without a cell phone in our hands or on our hips.