Another year under our belts, and I am aching for simpler times. I can’t say I’m the type of person who prides herself on owning all of the newest gadgets. I teeter on the edge of being extremely fascinated with technology and somewhat reluctant to adapt.

It amazes me what we are capable of creating — inventions which were deemed impossible only 30 years ago — information at our fingertips, phones the size of watch faces, augmented reality glasses (thanks Google, for bringing us into the future!), devices remarkably similar to science fiction.

Then I worry how this will affect future generations. So many of us live in technology — through Facebook and Twitter, our phones, and our laptops.

This is how we connect. It is our social status and how we are learning to measure our value.

How much different will the lives of younger generations be from ours? Will technology be their crutch?

I own a 4 year old MacBook Pro and on my last visit to the Apple store, I learned it’s now a vintage model that will no longer be serviced… what?

I’ll say it again. What?!?

Marketing is a ridiculous thing.

Everywhere we turn, there are businesses pushing the latest and greatest — telling us what we have is not enough, it is obsolete. Trends are fast moving and constantly changing. We struggle to keep up and remain relevant.

At what cost?

In attempt to stay abreast of the digital age, we lose so much pure, honest human interaction and settle, in exchange, for words on a screen.

Technology intended to make us more efficient will hinder us if we rely on it too heavily.

Think about the choices you make. Put your phones away at the dinner table or when you’re in a group of friends. Next time you need to conduct research, go to the library. When you start to send a text message, make a phone call instead. You’ll feel better — maybe more human.