An Emotional Crutch?

In the month where one of my closest friends journey's to South America, for what I call her 'voluntary exile'. I remain in London to celebrate my birthday and appreciate the years that I have seen through and to contemplate the direction of the years to come. Another phase. January has always been one of my favourite months, not only because its my birth-month but also because the lies that we all tell ourselves (whether it be "I will start the gym tomorrow " or "I'm not having a mid-life crisis!" or "I will keep in touch" and my personal favourite, "I shall win the Noble Prize in 2016") begin to unravel in December, we realise how fast the year has gone by and how slow our plans of improving our lives has been. Another phase.

By January the truth has manifested itself and we decide to conquer it with New Year's resolutions. These feeble agenda's usually crumble by mid-February. But the few disciplined and determined one's who keep up these goals, the Internet can provide the tools to progress their aim. Another phase of how technology has improved our lives. Or another stage of how the technology has imposed on our lives?

In the digital world that we are all a part of, the web is a virtual toolbox. Software, websites, blogs, online communities and social networks are just some of the options available to help develop our lives. There seems to be a www dot, for nearly every subject. I recently downloaded Skype allowing me to impose on my friend’s retreat to South America. Messaging her online as if she was still here, and even though I might not receive a reply for a few days just knowing I could connect with her, that she could see my message, soothes my melancholy now that she's not here.

The Internet as an emotional crutch? This could well be true. Most of us at times wish we could alter our lives cyberspace gives you the opportunity. You can create identities and find like-minded people and not be restricted to a space or time.

We are being told that globalisation is bringing people together but one of my suspicions of society's increase use of the internet reflects an increase of loneliness not necessarily unhappiness but an increasing need to feel a connection. With all the tragedies we hear of everyday, it seems everybody is trying to leave their mark with the world. As a child I left my mark or tag 'Revolt' on buses and school walls but now I can comment on super and funwalls. Leave a mark to help stop wars. Leave a tag to help bring down walls.

Through the Internet you can make objects, music, friends, lovers, you can even make a difference online. Signing petitions, voicing your political opinion against or for a subject. I personally find myself being seduced by the net everyday, the temptation to blog or to download or to watch online leaves me very self conscious, in a dichotomy where I give into my cyber desires while also missing my pen and paper wanting to turn some pages, needing to stand up, clap and ask for an encore.