Down the street from my home is a small neighborhood tennis court. One morning I noticed a large red tailed hawk take off from the corner of the fence that surrounds the court. I enjoy watching birds of all types, especially hawks, so I stepped off of the main road and headed down a gravel access path to get a closer look at the bird. He had flown to a nearby tree, to a limb approximately 40 feet from the ground. As I stood there the hawk flew up to a higher perch and then a few moments later to a limb a bit higher. Over the course of these three upward movements, he increased his vantage point by approximately 20-30 feet. The red tail sat on this top limb for a few moments before flying even further back into the wintry woods to the top of an oak that still held its leaves. As I stood and watched, the hawk settled into its highest perch. We stood in silence for many moments before I turned to complete my morning constitution, allowing him to return to his unobserved business of the day.
The Technology
social networking platforms
They are so common today, it may surprise you to know that the most commonly used social media platforms have been around for less than 10 years! Facebook was launched in 2004 (its predecessor MySpace launched in 2003), Twitter in 2006, LinkedIn in 2002, and Instagram and Pinterest in 2010. In education, and in for-profit and non-profit sectors, many are exploring the potential that each tool has to create connection, promote ideas, and convey meaning to others on a global scale. As hardware has evolved from larger desktop machines to laptops and hand-held devices, our interface platforms have adapted to fit as well. We have moved from the use of licensed software based applications, to web-based tools and now to mobile apps. Tools which once served a singular purpose are now multifaceted devices. The pace at which technology has changed is exponential. Keeping up with devices and applications can, even for the most techno-savvy at heart, feel daunting. Mindful investigation and selection of tools and social media platforms, paired with a strategic plan of use (or non-use), can help you to find your way.
Connections
"Mindful Technology" Pinterest board
Seeing the red tailed hawk reminded me of some of the personal processes I've used in exploring and choosing social media. I have intentionally taken my time to explore each platform, its vantage points, locating appropriate uses before committing to use them. One mechanism I am currently using to help me to gather and evaluate new platforms and their purposes is a Mindful Technology board on Pinterest. It allows me to curate info-graphics, articles, and other resources related to new technologies, their potentials, and uses - sharing them in a web-based, visual manner. The resources there may help your process as well.
I have also identified three potential "vantage points" (from the red tailed hawk metaphor) which can support a balanced understanding of social media. The first is "on the move." Related to the hawk's movement from the fence to the first tree, it represents our use of social media to communicate with others while we are in transit from one place to another. All of the social media platforms mentioned above now have applications (apps) which can be used on a tablet or smartphone to share brief updates. Its up to us to decide if we will check our social media while out and about, or wait until we are at a stationary location. The second metaphorical comparison we can make is that of "levels." Related to the hawk's movement up the same tree to a higher vantage point, we have the ability to choose to utilize social media at low, medium or high levels. I believe it is important to recognize a propensity to be "sucked in" by our technologies and to make a mindful choices about how much time and energy we will devote each day. Finally, the metaphor of "deep cover" relates to the hawk's choice to retreat to the tree where leaves were still present, providing camouflage. With the preponderance of technology available to us nearly every place we go, I believe it is critical for us to make choices related to intentional unplugging.
For those interested in the notion of unplugging, you may enjoy visiting the National Day of Unplugging website. Not all agree with the movement towards creating "digital sabbaths." My thoughts are always return to the idea of mindfulness - to the noticing of our use of technology, to deciding where we might like to change, and finally to making informed responses from that place of knowing. Good luck with your own mindful explorations of social media!
Social media image courtesy of Pixabay: http://pixabay.com
My personal workspace faces the front of our home, overlooking the driveway and the woods beyond. This morning I spent some time observing birds coming and going from the various bird feeders we have installed below. The scene was "convention like" - a veritable "who's who" of the bird community in attendance.
At the long and narrow nyjer seed feeder we had visitors such as the house finch, gold finches, and a bold chickadee who was unafraid to hang upside down by his feet to feast on the tiny seeds. The larger mixed-seed feeder hosted a tufted titmouse, some nuthatches, and a cardinal or two. Finally, the suet cake boasted the arrival of two distinct species of woodpecker - the red-headed and hairy varieties.
Even the ground was a gathering spot for consuming scattered seeds. Many of the aerial visitors, while waiting their turn at the feeders, dropped down below to forage for dropped morsels. A few even dropped down to crack open the seeds they had collected above. A chipmunk and a mourning dove, too large to sit on the perches of any of the feeders, took advantage of the busy activity above as well, munching on the leftovers.
The Technology
A common question appears to be coming up in my consulting work lately. Many clients ask me to advise them about the potential benefits and drawbacks of purchasing and utlizing smartphones, tablets, and laptops. It seems that many already possess these three categories of technology, without a grounded sense of when they are best utilized - for what purposes.
Dell's interactive infographic
One way I begin to advise clients is by describing the features or liabilities of the particular technology that can facilitate thinking, allowing them to begin to recognize potential of teach tool. With clients, I also stress the importance of knowing your purpose in any particular endeavor. That is, what do you hope to accomplish while using a device? By identifying goals, then reviewing each device's potential uses and recognizing its' limitations, you too can begin to identify for yourself the best tool for each situation. Dell has created an interesting interactive info-graphic which may help understanding of the potential of each device.
In general, I believe that relative size does have a lot to do with the tool's capacity and use. For instance I have found that:
Laptops are: the most full featured, the most powerful, while also being the heaviest of our portable tools. Tablets are: not as full featured as a laptop, slightly less powerful, while being better when it comes to speed of use, weight, and portablility. Smartphones are: a bit less robust than the tablet, substantially less powerful the others, but much smaller and the most portable of all devices.
Connections
Just as various birds prefer different kinds of seeds, and the feeders that distribute the seeds come in sizes appropriate to the particular bird's size and habits of feeding - our technologies have parallel sizes and benefits. Knowing which kind of "bird" you are and which "bird feeder" your situation dictates, will help you to select the appropriate tool to meet your goals.
Big Birds = Suet Feeder = Use a Laptop:
"Big Bird" uses are the times when you need to create content. Be it drafting a document, editing a webpage, or responding to a lengthy email, your laptop is the suet feeder in your tool set. Like suet, it will provide you with a wide range of "mixed seeds" and "fat" to bind your work together. It will offer you the fullest range of features to support your needs. The "Big Bird" option will let you do just about everything all of the other tools will - with the exception of making a traditional phone call.
Medium Birds = Medium Feeder = Use a Tablet:
"Medium Bird" uses are the times when you need speed, lightness, and touchscreen ability. Like the medium bird feeder, it provides many of the same options that your laptop will, however its not quite as useful in creating content. Your tablet won't have traditional "Office" tools for creating documents, spreadsheets, or PowerPointss - but it can allow you to create those items up in the cloud. Your "Medium Feature" option will allow you to quickly display web-based content with others, play games, and access email and calendars in a nearly immediate and portable manner.
Small Birds = Small Feeder = Use a Smartphone: "Small Bird" uses are the times when you need to locate quick answers and make responses in an immediate, mobile manner. Like the small feeder, your Smartphone is very specific in its tasks - and it does tend to attract a particular kind of "bird." Its small screen size requires excellent vision (or the patience to pinch the screen to enlarge text). Your "Small Bird" option is truly best for those tasks which are brief, on the fly, and don't require in-depth review or response of text based materials.
my laptop, tablet, and smartphone in action
Ground Scavengers = All Feeders May be Needed = Bring All Your Tools:
There are some days when you just won't know which technology is best. On those days, you may want to behave like the larger ground-scavenging creatures, bringing along all of your devices. In these cases, much like the ground scavengers, you'll have the ability to meet any situation with the appropriate response and support. Your "All Feeders" option will work best when you don't mind carrying all of your tools in order to be able to choose from your arsenal. "All Feeders" options also allow you to use multiple tools in interesting, overlapping ways - or to share a device with someone who hasn't brought one along.
As you continue to explore the potential and use of your particular devices, I recommend you ask yourself some of the following questions:
What do I hope to achieve today with my work?
What types of access to the internet, documents, or programs am I likely to have or need?
What tool feels like the best solution for my perceived needs?
Will I be most successful as a "Big Bird," "Medium Bird," "Small Bird," or "Ground Scavenger"?
I'd love to hear about your experiences with these bird metaphors. I'd also love hear your thoughts about which tools you prefer to take with you in your particular situations. Please share your ideas and questions in the comments section below.
Thanks to Sean Seningen of 6 Hours Inc. for the photo of my 3 devices!
The Story
One morning last week I was having coffee and reading before jumping into work on my computer. Having just made the bold leap into launching my technology consulting business, I noticed some sensations of anxiety and anxiousness in my torso. As I probed the feelings I was able to identify the tell-tale signs of fear. I noticed my inner voice saying things like, "What are you doing? Why don't you just get a job? This is never going to work. You'll have to get a job at some point anyway." As I sat there bringing presence to these negative thoughts, trying to turn them into positive statements, I heard some stirrings on the deck below.
"singing a sweet song, a melody pure and true..."
Moving over to the window, I looked down find three little birds on my porch. They were singing back and forth to one another. The three house wrens, as I quickly identified them, were plump, chipper, and joyfully greeting one another. They hopped back and forth, singing their song in a continuous stream, welcoming each other and the morning. Their brightness and and authenticity was so forceful that my mood immediately began to improve. I began to smile, then giggle. Soon I was actually laughing at their silly merry making on my doorstep!
Still basking in the joy of that moment I thought, "Well, now what shall I do with my day?" With a feeling of lightness in my heart, I immediately heard the response, "Perhaps I'll go to that business marketing meeting I read about in the paper last week!" For a brief moment, the feeling of doubt crept into my mind again. And, as if on cue, I heard the wren's song again. I looked out of the window. This time one of the three house wrens had flown up into the tree directly across from my window. It was as though she had flown up specifically to remind me to stay up and joyful. Her contagious song inspired me to quickly shower, dress, and head out to the early morning meeting with a positive outlook and skip to my step.
The Technology
A friend sent me an email recently telling me how depressing he finds the state of the world - he had been watching the local evening news on TV that night. His note, combined with the experience of the three wrens, got me thinking about the ways in which our technologies have the potential to profoundly influence our view of the world, our outlook on life, and even our feelings and moods.
What is the focus?
Personally, I have been exploring the impact of not watching TV at home for some time now. In our house we have only the basic cable and generally only watch movies on the weekend. As a family, we make art together, read together, take walks, go to the museum or playground together. When we use our individual technologies, we are mindful of the amount of time we spend on our devices, choosing the duration together and then sticking to our plans to unplug.
I've also started to think about my choices and use of social media in this same light. Having given up TV for the most part, I recognize the same potential stream of energetically charged stories and ideas coming from sources such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. While I may not turn on the TV often, I do look at the news in print form on the internet, and I do connect with others through email, chat, texting, and sharing ideas through social media channels. I do feel that similarly, some messages promote feelings of spaciousness, joy and love in my body, while others create fear, doubt, and anger. So I've begun to ask myself, "What is the focus?" I then make my choices from a place of awareness. Connections
Can you identify the ways in which technology influences your thoughts, your mood, or even your actions? Have you ever found yourself upset after watching a TV show or news report for no apparent reason? Do you sometimes feel irritation over the volume of texts and emails you receive? Do you sometimes become annoyed with trivial nature of your friends' Facebook and Twitter posts? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then perhaps you've identified a way in which the focus of the message being sent is impacting your lived experience in less than positive ways.
So many of us are already hard on ourselves, questioning our actions, our words, our choices. Then we also unknowingly allow the messages that come in our devices to intensify feelings of fear, anger, guilt. Its no wonder so many of us are depressed, anxious, and even sick. The interesting thing though is - we've all experienced ways in which our technologies can just as easily create feelings of love, joy, and acceptance. In beginning to notice the physical sensations and thoughts that follow our use of technology, perhaps we can begin to make more thoughtful choices about what to view, when to use our technologies, and when to unplug for the sake of our personal happiness and that of others. Perhaps we can all learn to look for the three little birds in our daily use of technology.
As I began to write this post and work on its title, I was reminded of Bob Marley's famous song, "Three Little Birds." I searched for a recording of the song online. As it began to play on the tab I'd opened in my browser to YouTube and I was reminded of Bob's wisdom about the message that his three little birds have to share with us all:
Thanks Bob. Thank you to those who have chosen to utilize technology to share uplifting messages with the world. And most especially, thank you three little wrens - for coming to my doorstep that morning to lift my spirits - and for then inspiring this post.
Images: wren and social media pictures courtesy of http://pixabay.com
Video: Bob Marley video courtesy of http://www.youtube.com
