HEART OF STEELE
Last week, I counted up how many “screens” I own, and the total is six, which seems like way too many for one person.
Ask anyone who knows me, I always have a screen nearby, whether it’s my smartphone, e-reader, tablet, laptop, desktop, or internet-connected TV. Most times, I’m working a combination: reading while watching TV, watching TV while working on my laptop or desktop.
Over the next two weeks, I’ll be traveling with only my phone and e-reader. There may be a television set on here and there but for the most part, my goal is to take a break from the internet, from social media and news and all manner of mindless activities.
Like a lot of people, my screen habit deepened during COVID. At the time, I ran a local news website. Without in-person events, meetings, or activities, my days were spent gathering news online.
When my computer tallied up my hours of screentime each week, the number gave me pause.
It still does, even though I spend less time online. Nowadays, I’m back to covering in-person events and taking the time to explore all the beautiful parks and other amenities in and around Steele County.
We lose something important when our primary connection to the world is through a flat, electronic surface. If you’ve ever wondered how important that personal touch is, look no further than the Reasons to Write pen pal program, which is expanding in Owatonna.
It was my privilege to watch the difference it makes last week as fourth grade students from St. Mary’s School met the senior pen pals with whom they’d been corresponding since October.
Kids quickly found their pen pals, and the conversations seemed to flow easily and well with older adults they’d never met before that day.
There’s a lot to be said for having children learn how to handwrite letters, even though that seems to have gone out of style. They need to learn the mechanics of written communication, free from emojis and other forms of electronic shorthand, and to get comfortable with expressing themselves through language.
But there’s even more value in learning how to interact with another human–what questions to ask, how to let someone else know you’re interested in learning more about them and what they have to say.
I’ll be honest, I’m going to miss my screens while I’m away. But I am also looking forward to real conversations, the kind that come from the heart, and to being in the presence of people who mean so much to me.