This topic has come up a lot lately in my conversations with friends and interactions with others.  I’ve been hit over the head with it in a VERY real way and am sad to say that over the past 4 years – YES, you heard it 4 YEARS I’ve been really bad at giving others around me undivided attention.

I am not one to blame things on others or things or situations – I can only look in the mirror and ask the question, what role am I playing in this “situation” or what did I do to “set this in motion”?

I realized that I got a Blackberry!!  aka. Crackberry, right?  I can pinpoint the time when my “undivided attention” started to become divided.  This wonderful piece of technology was FUN, it kept me connected, in the loop – I didn’t need to be tied to my computer to check an email, it came oh so conveniently into the palm of my hand.  I literally fell in LOVE with IT!!  THEN I learned how to text – oh boy!  As I discovered all the wonderful features of my new BFF I discovered PINing and Instant Messaging too – I was hooked, addicted BUT, OH SOOOOO disrespectful to everyone who was “present” in my world.

I’ve been confronted by people who have shared with me the reality of who I was becoming……..It was difficult to hear at the time because my intent was never to cause anyone any pain or disrespect. Why was I doing what I was doing?  Was the noise that my phone was making to alert me that there was a NEW message THAT important that I needed to constantly be checking it?  Seriously, who did I think I was?  What was so pressing that I had to divert my time and attention from whomever I was with to check in with my piece of technology?  SERIOUSLY?!?!?  Turn it off, Leave it behind – actually throw it in the ocean or something!!

The past 7 months I’ve been working on this and I feel that I’ve made GREAT improvements.  I have set boundaries now with my BFF and it feels good, although sometimes I break ‘em, UGH!  I’m sad that I’ve sent the message to others through this senseless behavior that they are not important and I’m striving to repair that with my actions.

I am truly grateful for those who have been honest with me to point this out.  It’s a catch 22 however.  Thank you, Thank you, Thank you on one hand  THEN I’m sorry, sorry, sorry on the other for hurting your feelings.

What prompted me to write this today is this morning I was having coffee with a dear friend of mine and we were talking about how computers, cell phones, texting, iphones – and any other device you want to name – were stealing precious time from those that we love.  For me, its been my Blackberry.  And after our talk this morning I got to thinking about some other things that are creeping into my world……….what is it for you?  What in your world “divides” your attention from the people and things that are really important?