{"id":2057,"date":"2015-10-18T22:27:13","date_gmt":"2015-10-18T19:27:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hbne.co.il\/?p=2057"},"modified":"2019-11-05T13:51:00","modified_gmt":"2019-11-05T11:51:00","slug":"black-and-blue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hbne.co.il\/?p=2057","title":{"rendered":"Black and Blue"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"UNI\"<\/a>
Our son and his friends explore with a unicycle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Saw it
\nLiked it
\nClicked and shared
\nAgain and again<\/h3>\n

Laughed alone
\nApplause applause \u200e
\nHad to \u201cshoutout\u201d\u200e
\nA \u201cdouble barreled\u201d horray<\/h3>\n

Sheds tears
\nNo one there to comfort
\nGropes for the mouse
\nMust acknowledge this<\/h3>\n

Glued to the seat
\nEyes bore home
\nWants to go
\nBut has to stay<\/h3>\n

Crafts a comment
\nLets everyone know
\nScrolling down
\nMust catch up<\/h3>\n

Peeking
\nFeeling her way
\nThrough the gossip
\nTangled in the web<\/h3>\n

Just one more look
\nAnother cute kitty
\nPaw prints
\nLead her way<\/h3>\n

Friends, there are many
\nShe wears them like a badge
\nOnly wishes she could recall
\nA familiar sign<\/h3>\n

In the Land of Pretend
\nAn easy girl
\nLeaves her mark<\/h3>\n

Caught her eye?\u200e
\nShe must reply
\nCollects her likes
\nHolding them close to heart<\/h3>\n

A moment long since gone
\nShe counts
\nAll her blue gems<\/h3>\n

A tangled web
\nBlack typeface
\nBlue thumbs up
\nScarred for life<\/h3>\n

Drama dies quickly
\nClick click
\nFriends have gone away
\nA virtual embrace
\nLittle consolation
\nFor face to face<\/h3>\n

\"HUG\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The Stone Age<\/h2>\n

When I moved to the kibbutz there were but a few telephones and not a one to be found within the members\u2019 homes. My parents would call and had to reach me via the telephone in the communal dining room. During the 1982 Lebanon War hubby was at the front. By that time there was a \u201cmajor\u201d breakthrough in the kibbutz communications: a phone system linked through a manual switchboard system. Of course, all communications between hubby and I during his reserve duty were initiated at the front through a field telephone. During the days of rage of the first and then second Intifadas, terror ran rampant. We had no way of communicating with our children when they went out with their friends. Many a weary night was spent waiting up to great their safe return. In time technological advances were able to supply the market with affordable mobile telephone solutions and we quickly bought ourselves an easy fix for our peace of minds.<\/p>\n

Technology Spring<\/h2>\n

Later the IPhone craze was born and a good friend proudly showed off his new toy. I politely feigned interest as I oohed and awed in all the right places. Truth be told, I just did not see it to be the cool gadget that he did: it was not lacking in my life. For years I touted a company \u201cstupid\u201d phone (copyrighted by my daughter) from work. It served me well and, most importantly, was all but indestructible and survived many spills and potentially cracked and shattered screens.<\/p>\n

In time, a long time at that, my company did upgrade its mobile phones to smartphones. Hubby whispered in my ear words of encouragement. He knew that I would quickly adapt to the new technology and utilize it to its fullest extent.<\/p>\n

And he was right of course. I do not leave home without my smartphone or my IPad, which I adopted a few years later. I must admit, it is a little too hard for me to divert my attention from the screens\u2026.<\/p>\n

Once, a long time ago, hubby spent some time in a chat room. It would occupy many of the wee hours of the night. This webbed hobby passed quickly. For my part, a few years later I discovered Facebook and was swept away by it. I was to discover long lost childhood friends and a strong web of online communities with common passionate interests.<\/p>\n

Indeed the technology is amazing. It is captivating and latches its hold on us. We must be clear between the boundaries of our real life and those of the virtual world. At home, at work, on the playground with our children and even behind the wheel we are glued to our screens. Our children and our loved ones do not receive the attention that they deserve.<\/p>\n

Like like like \u2026<\/h2>\n

On the one hand, we click our praise freely with no restraints. On the other hand, we check and double check our screens in anticipation of thumbs up and other praise to be lavished upon our posts. We just want to be loved. Who will \u201clike\u201d me? Let\u2019s not forget the biggest thrills are to be found outside of our screens.<\/strong><\/p>\n

May I recommend three ways to create and cultivate good feelings without the use of the cursed blue button?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Develop a practice of gratitude. Even before you swing your feet out of bed in the morning, give your thanks. In your mind create a mantra \u201cten\u201d: find a list of ten things, small and large alike, which bless your life and give gratitude.<\/p>\n