Being a parent means sometimes you learn amazing lessons from your children.

I have been sporadic posting lately, because I have been spending more time reading. Good, Old Fashioned book reading for pleasure. Despite the break from letting time sucking TV and news consume my life, I still find myself falling in to the trap of modern technology and culture: Texting, instead of calling. Texting, instead of face to face meeting and chatting. Looking at my phone in the midst of conversation. Checking social media, full of people I have never met, instead of meeting with those I do know.

I am guilty of ‘looking down’, and based on what I see around me, I’m not the only one.

My oldest recently returned from study abroad in Europe. We made the decision in advance to only use Wi-Fi when available to communicate, meaning her phone was pretty much useless. She was therefore ‘liberated’ from the tether of her phone, and came home with a whole new perspective, and priorities. Arriving home, we find her no longer dependent upon a phone with 3G and a data plan, along with access to technology to socialize or communicate. She quite often leaves it at home. It is refreshing in this day and age of ‘everything technology’.

Did she spend her time in Europe looking at an illuminated screen?

No, she did not. And she came home RICH in memories and experiences.

Does she spend her time now, looking down?

No, she does not. And she seems all the more happy for it.

So watch this video, and take a lesson from a 21 year old. I did, and I’m not ashamed to admit it.