Maria Connolly, LPC
Grief and letting go: when your body won’t get the memo…
Erin spent months preparing for her move to a new city, a big promotion, a fresh start. She’d said all the right goodbyes, packed her apartment, and mapped out the next steps for her career. On paper, everything looked perfect.
AI is moving fast. Faster than most of us can wrap our heads around. It can write our emails, plan our meals, and answer questions we didn’t even know we had. And while there’s a lot to be excited about, there’s something quietly at risk in all this: the skills that make us beautifully, unmistakably human… the skills AI can’t replace.
What are they? And how can you nurture them now?
Most of us have a complicated relationship with technology. We love what it does for us — the convenience, the speed, the immediate access. But sometimes, if we’re brave enough to look closely and use AI as a mirror, we realize it’s also showing us things about ourselves we’d rather not face.
In many ways, AI and our devices have become mirrors. Not just tools we use, but reflections of our inner patterns, fears, and unmet needs. And if we pay attention, those reflections can teach us a lot.
If we’re being honest… most days we feel pulled in a hundred directions. Between work, family, texts, emails, and a steady stream of notifications, it’s no wonder being present in the moment is so difficult. Our mindfulness is being hijacked! And yet this precious skill is one of the basic foundations of a full, richly satisfying life.
Have you ever caught yourself scrolling through social media while half-listening to a conversation? You’re not alone. Our devices and the algorithms behind them are designed to grab our attention and keep it. But the real cost isn’t just lost time. It’s lost peace, presence, and the deeper connection we crave.
The number of times we check our phones every day is shocking! Studies estimate the average person taps, swipes, or clicks their device over 2,600 times a day, and heavy users check in at more than 5,400 interactions daily. Each notification, scroll, or quick message offers a fleeting sense of connection. But here’s the paradox: while these micro-interactions promise closeness, they often leave us feeling more isolated, anxious, and emotionally starved than before. And that’s not even considering the impact of artificial intelligence!
A false intimacy has become part of the digital age we live in. Being in constant contact isn’t the same as being truly connected. We, who are on a path of personal growth and authentic living, need to connect on a deeper level. Otherwise, we lack clarity, resilience, and meaning.