This week is about life, death and technology, a tale of two texts. Last Saturday, I received a text just before I was about to teach my yoga class at noon, a friend had died. I don’t move, I don’t think, I just paused in stillness. It took about 5 minutes in utter still and calm for the message to register. As I reread the text, I had to smile. I’ve taught yoga online for 5 years. Through technology, students span the US and time zones. California, Virginia, Florida, Nevada, with drop ins from states in between. I truly took comfort in knowing my friend was with loved ones all week. Texting surged in 2007; Face time debuted in 2010 and Zoom in 2013. It would have been absolutely amazing to video chat and text with my mom as she succumbed to cancer in 2005. Instead, when she was unable to speak, I was left with narration, “she’s eating French Fries,” or “she is smiling.”
On Tuesday, there was a text in the midst of a text chain discussion on ChatGPT and AI; “I’m worried for our children and [what] they are being taught.” Me? I am excited about the future of AI. Yes, it can be misused or dangerous. The same can be said of automobiles, planes or indoor plumbing. Technology’s goal, to improve the quality of life, is disruption. There is always the possibility that something can be used malevolently – profits over service. The reaction with technology is typically resistance to immediate change and anticipatory loss. AI will take away jobs! But, is that loss a reason to fight AI. What about strategic gains? AI can make things safer and reduce risks – i.e. medical interventions, building planning, traffic control. Will the job market shift? Absolutely. With the proliferation of automobiles, horse carriage manufacturing went down; but car manufacturing, infrastructure building for roads, gas stations, etc, increased.
There you have it. Through technology, people spent time with their loved ones and shared goodbyes. Through technology (text and Facebook) the world could be notified without the series of phone calls I had when my parents passed. With the text, I had the moment of stillness to think about my friend. A woman, I first met when she picked me up from the hospital after I had outpatient surgery. A friend, who on the times we got together, I knew the one hour coffee would be four to five hours. A woman whose mission was to celebrate holidays and events while feeding everyone a meal. A woman who delighted in proudly featuring one of her husband’s favorite desserts, a peanut butter and jelly tart. To the one and only kjandbear, rest in peace.
A few people play a game of finding the remote in my photos. Yes, I am the one with control. This is my reminder to pause in stillness. I do have that power. This week, consider a pause in stillness.
Balancing on Unstable Surfaces 