Tag Archives: attention

What Part of You is Free?

This post was written several years ago.  I’m feeling great these days and ready to post some of the things written in darker moments… From January 2010 I’m lying in bed and the right side of my body is frozen.  I’m right-handed.  I want to get up and the thought alone isn’t getting me there. Continue reading “What Part of You is Free?”

Falling in Love (How To)

A few years ago, in a conversation with a friend, I caught myself paying more attention to another, nearby conversation. Realizing I was missing the moment to connect with this friend, I created a “game” for myself to counteract the distraction. Now, as much as possible, when I make a choice to be in conversationContinue reading “Falling in Love (How To)”

Our Powerful and Fragile Attention

What if I told you that the way we are talking about attention is part of the problem today? Our conversation about distraction, multi-tasking, and the stern command to focus actually creates a level of stress, anxiety, and shame. Headlines read: Dangers of Digital Distraction! Taming the Distraction Monster! Time to Unplug! This conversation stressesContinue reading “Our Powerful and Fragile Attention”

The Time We Have (in Jelly Beans)

http://ashow.zefrank.com/episodes/128 My friend’s 16 year old son stopped playing video games. Cold turkey. From hours a day in front of the screen one day to those same hours spent with friends ever after. “Why did you stop?” his mother asked. “Jelly Beans. My life in jelly beans.” Thanks to Ze Frank for creating this powerfulContinue reading “The Time We Have (in Jelly Beans)”

From the Atlantic: Interview with James Fallows

Jim Fallows asked me to talk with him about the future of attention.  I wanted to share the links for the short version that appeared in the magazine, and the longer version that appeared online. The short version, followed by a link: From the time we’re born, we’re learning and modeling a variety of attentionContinue reading “From the Atlantic: Interview with James Fallows”

A Badass Musician & a Sixth Degree Aikido Black Belt Advise on Email Apnea

Watching Cameron Carpenter play the organ is a transcendant experience. It’s as if he’s “lit.” The organ just sits there, and Carpenter’s body exudes a powerful energy. Most of us, when we interact with digital technologies, “merge” our energies with the device, exhausting ourselves. Experienced musicians don’t do this. In the evolution of our relationship with digital devices, we have a lot to learn from experienced musicians.