Hello, beautiful readers! I finally finished revising my WIP. It has been years in the making, and I feel relieved that I kept my promise to myself to finish before school started again. As soon as the book cover is ready, I'll plan its release. I'm hoping to do a blog tour for it, so I now need to start putting together posts for that.
Today, I've chosen to combine two prompts. The first is Sadje's What Do You See? prompt. She provided us with the picture below and one other image, but this one resonated with me most. The second prompt is dVerse's Haibun Monday. Frank J Tassone is hosting, and he wants us to use the word silver within our haibun. For those not familiar with a haibun, it's a paragraph of prose and a haiku.
(image credit; Hirz Maulana @ Unsplash)
Simplicity's Death
I often wonder what life would be like if the first computer was never invented, if advanced technology never existed. Sure, some of the comforts I have become accustomed to would disappear, making tedious tasks take longer. Still, if it had never been created, I wouldn't even know what I was missing. Without technology, society would live more in the moment. Children would spend more time outdoors, making connections with neighborhood kids. Our minds would not feel the need to mass produce and multi-task, even in our sleep. Computers, the internet, AI, our phones...it's a constant demand for attention and production, and it's exhausting. Sadly, technology isn't going anywhere, but there is a silver lining: we can still choose its role in our lives.
fast-paced world consumes
butterflies oblivious
life's speed is chosen
Would you like to a poem for one of these prompts? Click the links below:
I remember writing poetry and essays for college classes prior to computers. I really suffered. I am a natively poor speller. I just don’t have the knack for it. And so I would sit at my desk or in a restaurant with a thesaurus and two different dictionaries and loads of notebooks as I wrote, trying to make sure I didn’t make any spelling mistakes. I would fail miserably every time. I am so grateful for spelling assistance that comes from computers.
ReplyDeleteI completely understand that. Having to look up spelling drains the creative juices. Thanks for visiting and sharing, Aaron! :-)
DeleteGreat piece of writing Yvette
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ange! I appreciate your visit. :-)
DeleteAn interesting thought Yvette. Without internet, there would be no blog- but as you said we would have more in- person human connections. I love your haibun my friend. Thanks for joining in.
ReplyDeleteSadje
Thank you, Sadje! Yes, there would be a lot of connections lost, including blogging. That is something I would miss - the connections I've made across the world. Still, if it never existed, I wouldn't know I would have missed it. Lol! I appreciate you visiting. :-)
Deleteyes, we should be more like the butterflies! beautiful haiku, Yvette!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ren! I appreciate you stopping by. :-)
DeleteThe internet keeps us all connected for better or worse. The silver lining is the ability to choose. Best of luck on your current writing project.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Truedessa! I am hoping to choose to spend less time running around. Lol! Thanks for visiting! :-)
DeleteQuite close to the real world! I like "oblivious butterflies."
ReplyDeleteThank you, Reena! I appreciate your visit. :-)
DeleteThought provoking questions, Yvette! I was born and grew up in the time before computers. Life was quite different back then. Computers were introduced during the last few years of my teaching career! Nothing stays the same it seems.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your thoughts and visiting. :-)
DeleteI enjoyed pondering about your prompt-combo haibun, Yvette, and I too have been wondering ‘what life would be like if the first computer was never invented, if advanced technology never existed’. I worked with computers back in the seventies and throughout the eighties and nineties, and now use my laptop creatively and to stay in touch with family. Oh, to be a butterfly!
ReplyDeleteI got my first computer when I was ten, but it didn't consume my life back then. I had no problem detaching from it and enjoying life outdoors. Thanks for sharing, Kim! :-)
DeleteSilver lining, nice!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by my blog
Much♡love
Thank you for visiting, Gillena! :-)
DeleteThis is so relatable, Yvette. Yes, there is a silver lining.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Eugi! I appreciate your visit. :-)
DeleteI feel sorry for the kids of today, they have no idea what they are missing. What fun we had back then. I feel for their parents too. At least there's a silver lining there for the taking.
ReplyDeleteI feel sorry for them as well, especially since the new generations won't even know a world existed before technology. My sister and I have made a point to create moments where technology isn't included in our activities with our kids. It just isn't often enough. Thanks for visiting, Keith! :-)
DeleteHaving lived in both worlds, with/without computers, I can't help but long for some of life before technology. But, there are some things that the rise of technology has made improvements upon. Like you say, we must find the balance!
ReplyDeleteYes, we do, Heather! It's one of the things I want to work on this year. I appreciate your visit. :-)
DeleteA beautiful haibun, Yvette, and it really got me thinking again about how much time I spend with technology. Hours and hours every day - living vicariously instead of being out there and doing life. What a wonderful and timely poem. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteFrom Diana Peach. :-D
DeleteI feel caught up in the digital world just like any teen... but there are so many thing we miss. When I am out hiking it is actually a digital detox...
ReplyDeleteI agree, Bjorn! I try to get out in nature as often as I can to digitally detox. That's one of the many reasons why I love my visits to the beach. Thanks for stopping by and sharing! :-)
DeleteCongratulations on completing another WIP, Yvette. Your haibun is a beautiful reflection. As children, we never missed digital devices and playing outdoors was fun and now, life sounds unimaginable without them! 😊
ReplyDeleteThank you, Balroop! It's true that it feels like we can no longer live without technology, but I'm hoping to give it less importance in my life. I appreciate your visit. :-)
DeleteYou are spot on, Yvette. Our time is ruled by our devices.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, it is! Thanks for visiting, Nolcha! :-)
DeleteHey Yvette, life's speed is chosen really sticks with me—such a gentle but powerful reminder. Love the thoughtful calm of this haibun.
ReplyDeleteMuch love,
David
SkepticsKaddish.com
Thank you, David! I appreciate your visit. :-)
DeleteI love what you've said, Yvette - it's so true with so many things.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Chris! I appreciate you visiting. :-)
DeleteOh, how your words resonate, Yvette. I feel the same way. So well written, but there's no going back. So we can control how much technology consumes us. Wonderful writing. Lauren 💞
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lauren! I appreciate you stopping by. :-)
DeleteI relate well to your words. A wise write!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sara! I appreciate your visit. :-)
DeleteIt is indeed a mixed blessing! Using it judiciously, I choose to be grateful for the the fact that I can keep in touch with far-flung friends and family members in a way so much more immediate than the old letter-writing.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Rosemary! There are many parts of technology that I do enjoy. It's all about finding balance. Thanks for visiting! :-)
DeleteWe all have choices. To doom scroll or not! How many TV channels to we need. Watching a podcast hosted by a German gal living in the states one comment was why are there so many choices for pet food?
ReplyDeleteYes, a mixed blessing - which allows us to meet each other and share our lives via our blogs. :)
Hubby and I were just bemoaning how our elder grand doesn't need anything but the Ipad the school provides. No note books, paper - I think they still might have a few text books. And we wonder why cursive is considered a dying art?
Best to you as the new school year starts.
Thank you, Jules! It definitely is a mixed blessing. Thanks for visiting! :-)
DeleteI think "consume" is the key word here.. but also "chosen" :)
ReplyDeleteHello, Yvette, I have just subscribed to your blog, I hope it works, WP - Blogspot, I mean, via my email address, this is new to me :)
Thank you, Nicole! Blogspot can have attitude sometimes, so I hope it works as well. Thanks for subscribing! :-)
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