Saturday mornings are great for reflecting on the week's activities as we begin to unwind from the week gone by. My favorite morning place is of course, sitting at my computer with my window to the world outside, helping me focus on what's really important.
Today is especially challenging as family dynamics are changing, causing me to re-think my caregiver role for a family member outside my immediate family. It's at times like this, when I truly appreciate how important it is for everyone to have a personal sanctuary, a place where you feel safe, a place where you can reassess your life and what's really important.
Windows provide an interesting visual symbol for the world and our relationship with the communities around us, the ones we've chosen to join. In many ways our homes are synonymous with our family, and while the pioneers added rooms onto the primary home to accommodate new generations, today our children move away and create homes of their own.
One of the challenges I'm dealing with is my relationship to a sister who needs, but doesn't want my help. We expect our children to move away from home and form their own lives and families, just as we did when we left home. As we grew up and leave our parent's homes, our siblings also leave to form their new family units. This causes us to build new relationships with our brothers and sisters, ones we decide for ourselves — will we live next door, in the same town or across the country.
Technology a Tool for Communication
Technology has altered the landscape for everyone. Technology has changed how we communicate in so many ways we're only beginning to understand. Technology gives us incredible flexibility about where we live, where we work and who we spend time with.
- Where once there were great letter writers, there are now bloggers.
- Where once we were limited by the cost of long distance phone calls, most calling plans today offer unlimited, long distance although you might need Voice-Over-Internet-Protocol (VOIP) for free calls outside the United States.
- Technology advances now offer webcam images with services like Skype and smart phones let you take photos/videos and send them almost anywhere.
Technology Expanding Our World
Where previously, our lives revolved around the people and places we could visit, the Internet provides a window to the world in so many incredible ways.
- Rather than writing a letter to one friend, we can share stories with lots of friends online via social media sites like Facebook.
- When moving, it's easier to remain connected with old friends via the Internet. Online every day and no need to worry about time zones and calling too late.
- While there's only have one local quilt store (30 minutes), I can join online quilt communities and connect with quilters who have similar interests.
- I can find the information and resources to support my sister where she lives, from my home in another state … to allow her to maintain her independence!
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