Technology is ruining my life!

This phrase has been going over and over in my head lately, and coming out of my mouth at least once a day. I think I started to notice the impact of technology in my life when I finally got my website up which added about 4 logins to my daily routine if I want to update something. It doesn't help that to start with I get really obsessed with checking email and do so about 20 times a day. I have email, MySpace, Photobucket, a number of website logins, not to mention scanning and preparing all my images for upload. Okay, so I know it could be worse, I could be sitting here reproducing all my work by hand and have the hassle of putting together a physical portfolio that I'd get to drag around with me. As it lies, I know there is always a give and take, and any advantages usually come with their disadvantages.

But! I also have my cell phone, computer, ipod, car, printer, light table, sewing machine and all those crazy cords that attach this to that! Every time one of those things doesn't work just perfectly then there is my freak out moment that goes "OhMyGod I can't afford a new one !" or "I hate my life" or something like that. I'm a very hands on person, so I struggle somewhat to incorporate all this into my life and keep myself in check when things start to get too impersonal. I find that I miss sometimes the memorable act of receiving a handwritten letter. I love to give and get things made by hand rather than something store bought. The convenience of our lives now makes everything so disposable, even people. Emails, phone calls and texts come in 24/7 and end up getting lost in the shuffle, as we juggle every new acquaintance we met that day. I realize of course that my life in some ways is much richer by the access to different cultures, new and talented people that I can meet on the street or through travel. It just takes some focus to remember how you really want to live your life as an individual and not as a manufactured individual.
Holla!

My site of the day Illustration Friday