These days, it seems as though everything has an expiration date. The minute something better or newer comes along, it’s time to upgrade. We as humans spend thousands of dollars a year (EACH) on technology, be it computers, phones, tablets, and the like. Why is that? Are we so concerned with staying plugged in that we have a seizure when our phone dies?

There was once a simpler time. People interacted with each other face to face, telling stories to pass the time, playing games, singing songs, and educating themselves.

The first thing we do when we get out of bed in the morning is no longer to sit on the porch with a cup of coffee—it’s to lay in bed and check in on all the gossip we missed as we slept. Contrary to popular belief, this does nothing to help the process of waking up; if anything, it makes us just want to fall back asleep all the more. Is it really that important to scroll through Twitter first thing in the morning?

Perhaps the real issue here is not so much the media that we are surrounded with, but instead that we as a species have become too dependent upon others for our enjoyment and success. People don’t seem to take time for themselves like they used to.

A lot of people in my life, for instance, always have to be with someone. To the point where they won’t get something to eat unless someone eats with them. They get up, go to class, do homework, eat something, go to work, etc. They’re always working or doing something.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but when do they get time to themselves? If we all went from morning to night, day in and day out, constantly socializing and being around other people, at what point do we have to think for ourselves? Try something that only we want to do?

To cap all of my thoughts together, I'll summarize like this: unplug from the world for a bit. Even if it’s just an hour or two. Turn off the electronics, and go for a walk. Build something cool with Legos. Try something new, something different. You may learn something. Even worse…you might like it.