I began to consciously change my behavior in other ways. I began to pay closer attention to how I spent my time. I realized how much of my time was spent multi-tasking driving while talking on the phone, walking while checking my email, reading while eating, etc. All of this constant activity, kept me from being and reflecting. It is ironic that many of the tools that are meant to keep us connected as human beings (cell phones, the internet and email), have simultaneously become tools of disconnection and isolation. You can see this when you see two people sitting together in a restaurant and both of them are using their cell phones. Instead of being present with each other, they are traveling wirelessly elsewhere. You can also see this when people walk down the street talking on their cell phones. They are so engrossed in their conversation that they are oblivious to what is going on around them, often bumping into people and narrowly missing getting hit by passing cars.

It is not possible to enjoy life when you are oblivious to it. I made a more conscious effort to be present, mentally and well as physically, paying attention to what I was doing and whom I was with instead of scattering my attention and focus in multiple directions.

I began to check email only two to three times a day. I stopped carrying my cell phone everywhere I went. It was fabulously liberating and fulfilling. This became clear to me one day as I walked to the subway. Instead of my usual last minute phone call before going underground, I paid attention to the beautiful green trees around me. I stopped to watch a squirrel and listen to the birds. Instead of rushing through life, I was actually present and experiencing it.

When I arrived at the subway entrance, I saw an older woman struggling down the stairs with a metal walker. If I had been on the phone and disengaged from the world around me, I probably wouldn’t have even noticed her. I helped her down the first set of stairs, through the turnstile and down the next set of stairs. Then, we sat together on the train and ended up having a delightful conversation. This is the kind of human connection that comes from being mindful and fully present.

Read about Connections on Every Level in Part 7 of the Change, Transition, and Transformation Series.