Sean - 😂 Sean, this is so true. I read an article around 30 years or so ago, discussing a rise is memory problems or dementia in people younger and younger. This intro grabbed my attention since my good sweet Mom had suffered and died of Alzheimer’s Disease. Naturally, my sister and I fear the hereditary qualities of this horrific death sentence. As I read the article, my mind was put at ease. This writer opined that it wasn’t an uptick in this neurological horror more than it was an overload of what the human brain can process and hold onto. Everyone used to have one phone number - easy to remember. I still remember the phone number we had when I was a little kid sent out into the world with this carefully memorized data, along with my street address. When everyone started getting cell phones, we had two numbers to remember, not to mention the cell phone number of your spouse, your parents, your buddies, and the list grew like wildfire. Add to that passwords. You should never use a password like “password,” your name, your birthday, and the rules evolved so that the combination required became letters (upper AND lower case), numbers, AND symbols. This became literally mind blowing. We’re not becoming forgetful, demented, or otherwise neurologically impaired. We simply have asked our peanut brains to do too much. I find this conclusion to be a big relief, especially as I enter my later years and my husband and I ask each other, “What’s the word for . . . “ and it turns out to be “cat.” 🙄
That was so funny! And everyone of us older crowd is sitting here, nodding. I gave up on remembering some things - I have a list of passwords based (and this is such a no-no except I was an animal rescuer and still have 9 dogs and 17 cats, God help me!) on pet names (!). It's 2 pages long. Hey, I can't even remember my best friend's phone number because the phone automatically dials it based on her name! I have a watch that will make phone calls (that also inaccurately reads my blood pressure and heart rate)! Some days I wish the threatened "internet is dead" would just go ahead and happen so I could get back to reading all those books I have saved up for when the internet goes dead.
Sean, you are an absolute hoot! Your stories about life are so real. That is why all of your fans can relate to you so well. The part about your wife texting you was hysterical, I laughed out loud! Your posts are the best part of my day, well that and my morning coffee. Bless you Sean, we love you!
My Mom said television was going to rot our brains. Truer today than ever before. And it’s the same with the internet. It’s useful for some things but for the most part it’s losing its shine for me. Social media seems to have brought out the worst in people. And most ‘news’ reads like the National Enquirer.
Discipline: a word that is rarely used today. I would suggest your young writer get out and interact with people, much like you do. That’s real life compared to what mass media attempts to feed us. Also reserve some quiet time to allow your own thoughts to surface. Get up an hour earlier and don’t turn anything on. Enjoy coffee and a sunrise. Read a devotional, they’re always inspiring. Much luck to all burgeoning writers, Lord knows we need better ones especially in journalism.
I, along with everyone else I think, have the same problem you do. I have an open notebook next to my computer that I write things down to help me remember. My wife has started writing things she "desperately" needs me to do but if things don't get done before the page is turned it is gone forever. I was making a gift for my mother and when it was time to finish the project I turned my phone off and went to my workshop and worked on it till it was finished. In that two hour span you would think the world was coming to an end. People would call, text with no response. They would call or text my wife and she would tell them I was trying to finish up a project. One of the emergency calls was about going to watch the Atlanta Braves in about four to six weeks and did I think we could get tickets. You know, an emergency.
I not only like but LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this column because it is soooo familiar. My life seems out of control because the phone goes off constantly, the ipad dings and I can't seem to finish anything I start from making the bed to cooking to emails. Distraction and chaos have become a way of life and I hate it.
Sean, hilarious, but so true. I try to stay away from Google to search for the best....whatever I am searching for. Then I am off going down a rabbit hole looking at sites that have nothing to do with what I was searching for. Distraction is by far the most frustrating thing even if you are not a writer.
This one had me LOL 😂 ~ All so true as these machines are running our lives & it’s not going to get better with AI here too…Yikes🤯
I’m going to get my coffee, turn OFF all the machines & go walk barefoot in the grass & thank God for another day. Bless you Sean & all the readers too ❤️
You left me hanging...did you ever find your phone? While my daughters were visiting, I kept telling them I had misplaced my phone and asking them to call my number to help locate it. All of this while playing solitaire on my phone. Distracted?
I remember a cartoon that stuck with me all these years. Grandpa was explaining to Grandson how there’s so much more to remember nowadays & his brain was just plumb full. Grandma comes in and says “Don’t forget toothpaste at the store.” Grandpa says “There goes my Social Security number.” Anyway, that’s my story I I’m sticking to it…
Sean - 😂 Sean, this is so true. I read an article around 30 years or so ago, discussing a rise is memory problems or dementia in people younger and younger. This intro grabbed my attention since my good sweet Mom had suffered and died of Alzheimer’s Disease. Naturally, my sister and I fear the hereditary qualities of this horrific death sentence. As I read the article, my mind was put at ease. This writer opined that it wasn’t an uptick in this neurological horror more than it was an overload of what the human brain can process and hold onto. Everyone used to have one phone number - easy to remember. I still remember the phone number we had when I was a little kid sent out into the world with this carefully memorized data, along with my street address. When everyone started getting cell phones, we had two numbers to remember, not to mention the cell phone number of your spouse, your parents, your buddies, and the list grew like wildfire. Add to that passwords. You should never use a password like “password,” your name, your birthday, and the rules evolved so that the combination required became letters (upper AND lower case), numbers, AND symbols. This became literally mind blowing. We’re not becoming forgetful, demented, or otherwise neurologically impaired. We simply have asked our peanut brains to do too much. I find this conclusion to be a big relief, especially as I enter my later years and my husband and I ask each other, “What’s the word for . . . “ and it turns out to be “cat.” 🙄
That was so funny! And everyone of us older crowd is sitting here, nodding. I gave up on remembering some things - I have a list of passwords based (and this is such a no-no except I was an animal rescuer and still have 9 dogs and 17 cats, God help me!) on pet names (!). It's 2 pages long. Hey, I can't even remember my best friend's phone number because the phone automatically dials it based on her name! I have a watch that will make phone calls (that also inaccurately reads my blood pressure and heart rate)! Some days I wish the threatened "internet is dead" would just go ahead and happen so I could get back to reading all those books I have saved up for when the internet goes dead.
Sean, you are an absolute hoot! Your stories about life are so real. That is why all of your fans can relate to you so well. The part about your wife texting you was hysterical, I laughed out loud! Your posts are the best part of my day, well that and my morning coffee. Bless you Sean, we love you!
Roxanne
My Mom said television was going to rot our brains. Truer today than ever before. And it’s the same with the internet. It’s useful for some things but for the most part it’s losing its shine for me. Social media seems to have brought out the worst in people. And most ‘news’ reads like the National Enquirer.
Discipline: a word that is rarely used today. I would suggest your young writer get out and interact with people, much like you do. That’s real life compared to what mass media attempts to feed us. Also reserve some quiet time to allow your own thoughts to surface. Get up an hour earlier and don’t turn anything on. Enjoy coffee and a sunrise. Read a devotional, they’re always inspiring. Much luck to all burgeoning writers, Lord knows we need better ones especially in journalism.
I, along with everyone else I think, have the same problem you do. I have an open notebook next to my computer that I write things down to help me remember. My wife has started writing things she "desperately" needs me to do but if things don't get done before the page is turned it is gone forever. I was making a gift for my mother and when it was time to finish the project I turned my phone off and went to my workshop and worked on it till it was finished. In that two hour span you would think the world was coming to an end. People would call, text with no response. They would call or text my wife and she would tell them I was trying to finish up a project. One of the emergency calls was about going to watch the Atlanta Braves in about four to six weeks and did I think we could get tickets. You know, an emergency.
The internet distractions slow us all down. It is a well designed and insidious plot... oh look otter videos
I not only like but LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this column because it is soooo familiar. My life seems out of control because the phone goes off constantly, the ipad dings and I can't seem to finish anything I start from making the bed to cooking to emails. Distraction and chaos have become a way of life and I hate it.
I feel better after reading this story and everyone's comments. I can so relate to this.
Sean, hilarious, but so true. I try to stay away from Google to search for the best....whatever I am searching for. Then I am off going down a rabbit hole looking at sites that have nothing to do with what I was searching for. Distraction is by far the most frustrating thing even if you are not a writer.
Sean…You Make My Day….Every Day!
This one had me LOL 😂 ~ All so true as these machines are running our lives & it’s not going to get better with AI here too…Yikes🤯
I’m going to get my coffee, turn OFF all the machines & go walk barefoot in the grass & thank God for another day. Bless you Sean & all the readers too ❤️
Dear Sean, I cannot tell you how much I agree with you because I am currently searching Google to find out... squirrel!
You left me hanging...did you ever find your phone? While my daughters were visiting, I kept telling them I had misplaced my phone and asking them to call my number to help locate it. All of this while playing solitaire on my phone. Distracted?
Light-hearted, as so many of your musings about serious issues are; but this IS a serious issue, isn’t it? 👍
LOL, Sean, LOL!! Point taken, in last paragraph! Still holding my sides! 😂😂
Yep, that resembles me too!
I remember a cartoon that stuck with me all these years. Grandpa was explaining to Grandson how there’s so much more to remember nowadays & his brain was just plumb full. Grandma comes in and says “Don’t forget toothpaste at the store.” Grandpa says “There goes my Social Security number.” Anyway, that’s my story I I’m sticking to it…
I’m that lady in Montgomery! I saw you in Pintlala before Covid. We never spoke or hugged but I bought 2 books from your wife.