I am always utterly astounded at the immense amount of wisdom and knowledge that is available to me at the click of a button via the internet. I seriously have a hard time remembering how I did it prior to www. Now, whenever I need help figuring out how many cups is one stick of butter or want to take a tour of the Forbidden City or am curious about what Oregon looks like I google it. Need a pritable form that I don't want to design myself? I google it. If I'm looking for ideas on how to entertain my wild child (aka Ayden) while I do school with the big boys I google it. And within seconds (or minutes, depending on my internet connection) I know.
What I love the most is stumbling upon someone's personal blog. I love reading about other peoples' lives. I'll have no idea who they are but often, after browsing through their blog, it almost feels like I know them personally. And sometimes, if it's an especially good read, I'll return to it regularly and it begins to feel more and more like I am visiting with an old friend. I cannot count the times I have been encouraged and challenged by a stranger's story. Life here can be a bit lonely at times but then I'll read about someone else's struggles or joys or heartaches and it reminds me that I am not alone in what I might be struggling with. Or reminds me of countless blessings that I can be thankful for.
Yet, in spite of how much I love the internet, it also makes me sad to think that I feel closer to complete strangers than to those around me. Or that our mailbox stays empty for the most part because everyone resorts to e-cards and e-mails (including me). It's made it easier and harder to stay in touch.
When I think back on how much time I spent writing letters and the joy that the process of using a pen and moving my hands to put words on paper gave me I regret that progress and convenience has taken all that from me. Knowing that a friend was eagerly anticipating a letter from me, taking time to read it and savor it and then responding in the same fashion - so much more intense and intentional, it seems, than clicking away on a keyboard staring at a computer screen.
So as this year draws to a close and I reflect on all I have experienced this year and the whirlwind pace at which things have happened, I want to add more moments of peace and quietness and reflection to my life. But instead of spending those rare quiet moments in front of my computer screen reading about a stranger's life, I want to be writing letters. On paper. To real people that I actually know personally. I want to refocus on relationships I have in real life, no matter how many oceans away these friends may now be. I want to be using my address book again and updating it and want to plan ahead so that real birthday cards will reach the right mailbox in ample time. At least that's the plan for now. We'll see what I say at the end of next year.
