To Do: Nothing 1

To Do: Nothing
Here is some praise for an activity that gets a lot of criticism: Doing Nothing. We are endlessly exhorted to Do Things. To be active, to keep moving – forward. What is this relentless busy-ness aimed at? Achieving goals. Our To Do lists are full of goals: to exercise more, to eat less, to kick ...

A ping does not make my heart sing 1

A ping does not make my heart sing
A young person’s phone is the love of their life… Ask me about my phone and I’ll tell you there is little love lost between us. I actually miss the days when phones were not mobile but rooted in the earth. I miss rushing to answer a ringing phone. I miss the chats I used to ...

Text Neck, now Birder Neck 3

Text Neck, now Birder Neck
I come to you with my head hung in shame… Correction: if I could move my neck without wincing, that would be my contrite posture. But I can’t. Not just my neck but my head and shoulders have been locked in painful spasm. I beg your forgiveness because My New Old Self aims to offer ...

Not too old for Smartphone Neck 2

Not too old for Smartphone Neck
I may not get Text Neck, that affliction mainly of slouching youthful thumb typists, but I am not too old to get Smartphone Neck. It can happen even when I do that thing young people have given up doing: talking on the phone. Unlike Text Neck, Smartphone Neck is not something brand new that has emerged in the digital age. It’s ...