One Word, Two Ways: Alone

I know this is probably a funny thing to post on a blog, however, lately  I have been stressed about communicating through technology. During the week, I feel like I am constantly on screens. There are times when I have at least 15 people I have been texting with throughout the day. I am delighted to be connected to all of the people I love, though these conversations do not fulfill me nearly as much as real human interaction.

I am certainly guilty of avoiding real conversation and using a text or chat when, in reality, the person deserves at least a phone call from me. We all do. We communicate more and more with each other, but in the end it makes you feel really lonely.

As I have said before, the weekends have been a test for me to take a break from all of my screens and live in real life. So far my research has shown that it is nearly impossible for me to do.

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Have you listened to Beck’s new album, Morning Phase?  If not, it’s really good and I’d recommend you go ahead and give it a full listen.  This song, “Blue Moon,” seems to be the one that’s getting most heavily promoted off the bat.  Perhaps it is because of the universality of its opening lyric, “I’m so tired of being alone.”  Perhaps not.  Either way, you can’t really deny the power of belting out those words.  Hell, Al Green’s masterpiece by that title never ceases to provide the sounds for a good ol’ self-pity session while simultaneously putting a little pep in your step.  Of course there is a difference between being alone and being lonely.  Many, many wonderful things can arise out of the time one spends alone.  So for those of you thinking to yourself, man, what I wouldn’t do for a little alone time, I wish you some personal space.  And for those of you whose alone-ness is creeping towards lonely, I wish you peace, patience and a proactive spirit.  As they say, we’re all in this together!