Edwina Tries… An Analog Day
Unplugging from technology to reconnect with everything else
I was the kind of kid who enjoyed looking things up in the Encyclopedia Britannica – we didn't have a set, but my great-aunt (Tía Star) did and I was obsessed with researching whatever struck my fancy. I would routinely look up a "word of the day" in our battered household dictionary. I loved quick bits of information. Call it Gemini spirit, plucky disposition, or undiagnosed ADHD, but I still love learning a little bit about a lot of things. Modern technology makes that almost too easy.
When cellphones became more commonplace, I didn't care about it much. I got the cheapest plan, traded up from a beeper to a Nokia, and threw it in the bottom of my purse. For me, everything really changed with the iPhone. First, I had an iPod Touch which felt like a tiny computer in my pocket (as long as I was in WiFi range). Eventually, I upgraded to the iPhone 3, then the 4, 6, 7, 8, 11, 13, and presently 15. I am constantly connected, with answers to a billion questions at my fingertips, the ability to find out what the name of that actor is, listen to that song in my head, order something I want, and take amazing photos of me, the cats, my love, my lunch, that squirrel… all right now! Taking a day off from all of that sounded like it might be tough but, in fact, it was pretty fantastic.
The night before my analog day, a Saturday, I let my loved ones know I would be unavailable for a day or two so they wouldn't worry and my anxiety would be lessened, and I went ahead and kickstarted early. I turned off my phone, I turned off the streaming service I was watching, I went out and did some yard work, came inside, cleaned up, and mixed up a sourdough loaf, put on a Coltrane record, and cozied up with a real book. No phone = no audiobook. When I went to bed, I set up a watch next to me so I could check the time if needed to and fell asleep without the help of my Calm app rain sounds.
I slept in on Saturday and woke up feeling great. I went into the kitchen and found that my fiancé had gotten me a single-use camera, written me a sweet note, and even included some cash for an extra fun analog day. The day included a trip to Herb and Honey Bakery, the Open Market at LEAF, Glinodo Goat Fest, Francisco's Mexican Taqueria, baking bread, and cozy downtime on the couch watching a DVD (not technically analog, but not dependent on an internet connection either). Then, I wrapped it all up watching the Elle Taylor Band at Voodoo Brewing Co. downtown and eating nachos. I was so busy having fun, I really only thought about my phone when I wanted directions or to find out the name of an actor, a song, to see what time it was, etc.; it was easy to let those things go and enjoy the moment. I was blissfully unaware of things outside my immediate surroundings, and it made me feel very peaceful, very happy, and all around good.
You, dear reader, may have discovered the importance of disconnecting from technology long ago. I admittedly am sometimes late to the party – it took me years to finally watch Game of Thrones – but that's a story for another day. I think one day of "disconnecting to reconnect" was short enough and novel enough to not be a real test of my borderline addiction to my phone/internet/streaming services. I probably should try a weekend or maybe a week. Perhaps that would be overcorrecting. But two things are certain: one, it was great to spend time with people in real life as opposed to seeing their status updates, and two, we have a lot of physical media in our home, and I need to spend more time with it and less time with digitized versions on my phone. Maybe I'll acquire an encyclopedia. Do they still make those? I'll look it up.
Edwina is Erie's (self-proclaimed) biggest fan who loves being a tourist in our own town. If you have an idea of something new she should try you can email her at edwina.capozziello@gmail.com
