Outdoor enthusiasts experience life at a level basically unknown to indoor dwellers. Indoor living is surrounded by the synthetic and artificial. The light is artificial, the air is conditioned and the furnishings are synthetic or man made. The sights and sounds experienced are not natural except for direct human input.

Having grown up on a farm, my formative years were without electricity and television, a time when much of life was focused on the outdoor scene. These times involved many family activities and functions with an end purpose of accommodating family needs which instilled purpose and meaning to life.

Front porches were a functional part of the house before televisions. Summer evenings were spent there while bringing an end to the day and enjoying nature's sounds of the night.

Then a subtle life change took place; televisions became a standard feature of homes. Porches either became non existent or assumed the role of an aesthetic part of the house with little functionality.

I hasten to add that technology in and of itself is neither good nor bad; how it is used and what it becomes to someone makes that distinction.

In our fast paced society, it is difficult for parents to spend quality time with their children; instead electronic devices have become a common substitute to occupy them.

Habits are difficult to break whether good or bad. It has been said that it takes an action to be done 22 times to become a habit. After many years, my wife moved the drinking glasses to a different cabinet space. The theory it takes 22 times to become a habit is fairly accurate as it took about that many times to routinely open the correct door for a glass.

A study has indicated that excessive exposure of young children to television has a rewiring effect on the brain and creates learning disorders. Humankind was created as a social being; it shouldn't take science to conclude that when un-natural or excessive functions become part of life, unhealthy outcomes can result. Add to the mix all the other electronic games and media with its seemingly addictive attractions, should healthy outcomes be expected?

If there is a question of whether there is an addiction in the family or not, try discontinuing use of something and observe the reactions.