I meant to publish my first post weeks ago. I have been taking time off from work to paddle in the Adirondacks, be with friends and family, and throughout all of that - write. I am mainly a poet but write essays as well and I have written a lot of both in recent weeks, mostly related to my ongoing interest in personal sustainability. As my colleague Himanee mentioned, this can mean different things to different people and I have been thinking about what it brings up in my own life.

For me, it has a lot to do with slowing down. And the first thing, or one of the first things I turn to when I slow down is poetry.  Or perhaps I should say return to, for it is always there waiting in the sidelines. My intention this year is to bring it back more centrally into my life.  Because it isn't just about poetry; it is that and everything that poetry embodies, which for me and I think many artists, is a great deal. It is an art form, yes; a way of working with and exploring language, but it is also a way of exploring what it means to be alive on this earth. It is a way of being, a way of maintaining presence in an increasingly fast paced and not so mindful world.

I have been reading a lot about the affects of technology, especially email and internet use, on our psychology, neurology and emotions. One thing I've learned is that it is significant. Much more than I'd thought. So much of it is silent, so much of it is insidious. It is so prevalent and often all consuming that it is hard to find the time and space apart to reflect on this infuence and feel exactly what it is. This does not mean it is a bad thing. Much of it is extremely helpful in our lives. But it seems that technology is best used when it is a supplement to our lives, an enhancement that we mindfully put to use. This is how I try to use it in my own life - thoughtfully and in a limited way. At times, however, it can be hard to do this as the technology at times is ever present. Often, there seems little space and time for truly pausing, for stepping back and reflecting on what we are doing and how and why.

At the moment, however, it is summer, and I have time for pause and reflection. Hence this blog and my being able to write. I am vowing to continue my writing practice, work on my new poetry book, and continue to focus on my well being and healthfulness once the busy fall term begins. In order to be effective in any of my work, whether my job or my poetry, it is vital to feel a sense of space during the day, to have pauses between between activities. For me, that sense of space translates to awareness. Awareness of how I am doing my work, how I am doing my life and if they help create a sense of ease and peacefulness, or more the opposite. To even begin to know this, it means taking time away from the pace and away from overuse of technology. Yes, it is ironic I am writing this on a blog, but I find it oddly therapeutic in its simplicity and directness.

It seems more and more, we are moving at an unnaturally fast pace. I read about a conference held this spring in Toronto which explored our use of technology and how it influences our experience of time, space, silence and solitude. One of the questions they asked was "what are we speeding up for?" Another was "are we hoping to save time, and if so, can time be saved?"  I think these are fascinating questions, made more so by their simple presentation and the fact that few people seem to be asking them. I hope to pick them up in my next post and explore them a bit more. Until then......enjoy the moment.

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