Too Much World - Too Little Pause

by Angela Sanford

What impacts our daily lives both positively and negatively? What do we rely on, yet see change almost constantly?

   This isn’t meant to be a riddle. I suspect most of you reading this immediately thought of technology—or at least some aspect of it.

   Don’t get me wrong. I love technology and the comfort it brings to my world—from the dishwasher to my robot vacuum (my most recent investment). At the same time, I have an aversion to its instantaneous nature. I’ve said before that I like to step away from media technology now and then, despite not being a fervent social media user in the first place.

   Lately, however, I’ve been contemplating technology’s broader impact on our daily lives—particularly how difficult it is to maintain the level of empathy required to navigate our global news feeds. Throughout the day, we are exposed to stories about the current state of affairs in Cuba, distressing events affecting local youth, or the devastating situation at a school in Tumbler Ridge, BC. We are inundated with information and, in turn, feel the need to regulate our empathy for our neighbours—while not overlooking countless other situations unfolding across Canada and beyond its borders.

   There is so little time to process and regulate our emotions as these stories surface daily. Then we must layer on our own individual circumstances and how they affect our capacity to cope. How do we “push through” or “move on”? How do we advocate for the space and regulation we need to maintain our day-to-day responsibilities? 

How do we adjust when the world moves so quickly?

   We wear the world on our shoulders. While advancements

in technology are meant to make life easier, they often place increasing demands on us instead.

   There is so little time to process and regulate our emotions as these stories surface daily. Then we must layer on our own individual circumstances and how they affect our capacity to cope. How do we “push through” or “move on”? How do we advocate for the space and regulation we need to maintain our day-to-day responsibilities? How do we adjust when the world moves so quickly?

   We wear the world on our shoulders. While advancements in technology are meant to make life easier, they often place increasing demands on us instead.

   Interestingly, the morning I programmed my robot vacuum, I remember thinking—half amused—how grateful I am that I don’t regularly struggle with paranoia. For a fleeting moment, I might have told you the vacuum was stalking me. Far-fetched, I know, but it felt real in that instant. When I sidestepped and it changed direction too, I nearly lost my composure. Knowing how our phones track our conversations, it’s not hard to imagine how such technological advancements could become the proverbial straw that breaks the camel’s back in regulating one’s thoughts.

   Moreover, I can’t recall having a positive conversation about social media recently. We now use terms like “keyboard warriors,” as posts and personal opinions divide families and friends. But how do we move forward from that? How do those divisions spill into our daily routines? We cannot undo our words. The old adage “sticks and stones” feels outdated—because words most certainly can hurt.

   When will there be a technological advancement that helps us regulate our interaction with the constant stream of global news delivered to our hands within moments of an event? More importantly, how can technology help us manage, sustain, and demonstrate empathy in a world where the demand for empathy never rests?