Have you ever gotten to a point in your life where you realize you are too connected?  Too connected to work, social media, everything.  It’s so all-consuming that you feel like you are drowning?  Which is not a good feeling for a non-swimmer, trust me.  Why do we need to be completely connected at all times?  Why do we need to tell everyone that we just purchased gluten free organic squirrel’s balls at Whole Foods (stole that line from my husband)?   We take pictures of everything we eat, tell everyone where we are and who we are with because we all know it didn’t actually happen unless it was documented on Facebook, and then become obsessed with seeing how many likes or comments we have.  It’s insane to think that I too have become one of these connected, obsessed people.  The stress of it is actually affecting my health. So today, it’s shut off and I’m going to breathe and try not to announce it to the world on social media.  Except for this blog but my only other alternative would be to use a pen and paper and I may get a hand cramp.

Remember the days, oh so long ago, where you would work from 9 to 5 and then go home.  No pagers, beepers, cell phones, iPads, laptops, etc.  You would leave work, go home and talk to your family and relax.  If someone needed something from you it could wait, hardly anything was that important that you were called on your wall phone at home.  You could actually focus on the important things in life.  De-stress, walk away from things and breathe.  Play games with your children without checking your phone every time you hear the ding of a message.  Eat dinner without arranging the food on your plate in the perfect way with your wine in the background so it looks good for Instagram.  Simpler times.  Healthier times.

I sell antiques for a living, not exactly on the same level of importance as a heart surgeon.  People won’t die or lose a limb if they don’t have their vintage milk glass salt and pepper shakers by 5 o’clock.  However, I am checking my on-line sites and email every 5 minutes from the time I open my eyes until I close them at night.  It’s such an addiction.  Just a few years ago we would check email when we had a chance on a computer.  Now if we don’t respond to whether or not you can bring brownies to a bake sale within 3.5 minutes from receipt of email you are a slacker.

Technology is a wonderful thing and it does help us in many ways, however I believe it really harms us too.  Sometimes you really just need to walk away so you can focus on the important things in life. So today I say screw you technology, everything can wait and I am going to take some time to breathe.

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This week marks the 20^th anniversary of my first date with my husband. 20 years since we held on to each other as we slid on ice through the North End. 20 years since I met my soulmate, my best friend, my husband and the father of my children. 20 years since my shallow 24 year old self actually took a second to question whether or not I could date a man that was balding. I was lucky he wanted to date me with that hideous permed hair. 20 years since I met the man that is almost as funny as I am, almost. 20 years since I truly found out what happiness is.

It’s amazing to think that our paths literally crossed from elementary school through college without them joining. It’s funny how life works. How a co-worker asking me to cover a shift for her so that she can go to lunch with a family friend, would lead to us meeting. That one event led me to finding the man that would do anything for me without blinking an eye. The man that thinks of me and my well-being before anything else. The most selfless man I know. A man that can affectionately call me a dumbass 15 times in an hour and make me giggle at every one. A man that still thinks I am beautiful no matter what my size.

We’ve been through a lot in the last 20 years. Houses, cars, children, stretch marks, cancer, surgeries, bad decisions, family problems, tears, ups and downs, but most importantly laughter. Every day there is laughter. When you find a person that makes you laugh every day, you are very lucky. Our marriage may not be perfect, but it is perfect for us.

Thank you to the man that makes me think of an A.A. Milne quote when I look at him, “If you live to be a hundred, I want to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you”.