I’ve missed a lot of meetings, but especially so in the last month. I set alarms. A day before, 30 minutes before, 5 minutes before, but I’m rarely at my computer, and my phone is almost never nearby. The last two meetings I missed were with my intern, and I felt awful. I never want to waste someone’s time; I’d be pretty annoyed if someone did that to me.
I still remember picking up my oldest from school at 2:30 and telling myself, “In an hour, I need to log into this meeting. I’ll set the TV up for the kids so I can focus.” And then, suddenly, it was 3:45. A friend happened to call, and while laughing about how terrible I am at remembering meetings, I realized I had just missed another one. UH OH. That was the moment I knew: I may need to get an Apple Watch strapped to my wrist to nudge me before every calendar event.
The truth is, I have a love/hate relationship with technology. KAEIU couldn’t exist without it, from design to marketing to connecting with all of you. But at the same time, I crave non-tech time. When I’m with my children, I want to exist fully in the now. That’s part of why I’m notorious for late text replies... I get lost in the rhythm of life. So the idea of wearing a device that’s always buzzing on me feels conflicting.
And yet, maybe what it actually gives me is the freedom I’ve been craving. Not the burden of being tied to a screen, but the relief of knowing I won’t miss another meeting, doctor’s appointment, or important reminder. Maybe the point isn’t that technology steals presence, but that — when used wisely — it can create it.
With love,
Maria