Being present with others

Have you given any thought to how distracted and distractible you are when you are with others?

Ipods, cell phones, Blackberries, palm tops, music on the speaker system, TV in the back ground, radio on in the car, Internet EVERYWHERE - we are literally bombarded with ways not to be completely present in moments in our lives.

It occurred to me last night when I was at a social function, just how almost incapable we are of focusing on conversation. I watched women, very polite and kind women, glancing at their cell phones to see who was calling or texting. Men were preoccupied with Blackberries and digital camera setups as they stood in groups of other men doing the same. Even the kids had palm tops or blackberries hooked to themselves and sometimes, using Y jacks, to their friends, as the cruised around together.

So is this a good thing? Do we really need this? Going beyond need (because it seems pretty easily answered - Ben Franklin wasn't hooked into his laptop Internet connection while designing that damn stove and he came out ok), do we want this?

Today I make a very small commitment - I will be really present with one other person, for at least one conversation or function or outing, every single day.

That sounds really easy and small but I think of myself, with my cell phone always present, my Ipod in during every run, my laptop constantly on, and maybe it really isn't so easy.