第一生命, 第二生命 / First Life, Second Life

After a hiatus of over two months, I am back. It took some will power to refrain myself from blogging while I was travelling in South Africa where I had access to Internet cafes in btwn bush camp; and I needed even more discipline after coming back to Canada where Internet access is just a mouse-click away. The reason for my hiatus is simple: I wanted to be temporarily away from the Net (but not off the grid) and put my primary life back on track.

Ever since I started blogging in September 2006, I have been putting in a significant amount of time "gardening" my little plot and sharing my thoughts with friends around the world. There is always this urge to write an article abt this and that or post some photos to keep my blog up-to-date. By the end of November 2009, I was staying up late trying to keep up with my virtual treadmills. Blogging was fast becoming a way-of-life, a second life if you may.

Don't get me wrong, blogging is fun. I always enjoy being creative and sharing experiences with others around the globe. Unfortunately, there is always the risk of becoming addicted and before you know it, the mean has become the end. Indeed, the medical profession has been questioning whether cyberspace addiction should be categorized as a form of mental illness (the answer is 'no' for now). Experts are also debating whether social networking is causing more obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) behaviour, or whether OCD is a pre-condition of Net-addiction.

Regardless of the cause/effect relationship, I don't want to go down the path where my second life might consume the first one. Taking time off is my own way of "rehab" to make sure my primary life takes priority.

I look outside the window. The sun is shining and the ski hills are beckoning. I have more or less re-set my daily routine. I now have more time to run, ski, skate and work on my six-packs. I feel more comfortable blogging again, with the full knowledge that I am on more solid footing and that my primary life is dominant. Now, only if I can will myself to get off the Internet after I have posted this article ..... just kidding !!!