Where Do You Spend Most of Your Time? The Troposphere, The Stratosphere or The Blogosphere?

Valerie Cullers 46 Comments

Earth’s atmosphere is made up of several layers: the Troposphere, the Stratosphere, the Mesosphere, the Thermosphere, the Ionosphere, the Exosphere and the Magnetosphere. The layer closest to the earth is called the Troposphere. It extends between 8 to 14.5 Kilometers above the earth, depending on whose statistics you use. We live in the lower part of it and planes fly up to the higher end of it. The Stratosphere is the layer above the Troposphere and it extends to 50 Kilometers. Some planes may also fly in the lower part of it. The Mesosphere, extending to 85 Kilometers above the earth, is where most of the meteors burn up. The Thermosphere, extending to 600 Kilometers above the earth, is where the Satellites orbit the earth. Above that is the Ionosphere extending up to 965 Kilometers, followed by the Exosphere, and the Magnetosphere. 

Unless you fly a lot, most of us spend our time down in the lower part of the Troposphere. Frequent flyers spend a lot of time in the upper part of it or in the lower part of the Stratosphere. It’s pretty easy to know where we spend our time physically but the real questions for all of us is: Where do we spend the most mental time? What holds most of our mental real estate?

three women standing near man holding smartphones

Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com

A fellow blogger, Dawn from Dawn Running Strong, was talking about social media and she shared that she wanted to be “fully present” with her family and friends. I read her post and it really struck a cord with me. The day I post on my blog, I am checking my email more often to see if I need to respond to a comment. My mind is distracted by it and many times, I am not “fully present” with those around me. I think that I am not the only person who struggles with it. Whether you are a blogger or not, it is easy to be distracted by our electronic devices. The picture above is an example of what I am talking about. The people are all standing around together, but they are not “together.” Each one is distracted by what they are looking at on their phones.

Whether it is our blogs, email, facebook, the news, whatever, it is going to take intentionality if we want to be to be “fully present” with those around us. The hardest thing for most of us to do is to step away from our electronic devices and “live” right where we are. 

Studies have shown that our electronic devices can be very addicting. There seems to be an inverse relationship to our happiness vs. time spent on social media. Social media doesn’t necessarily mean social in the sense of being truly connected to others. It can actually make us unhappy if we start comparing our lives with others who are posting on Facebook or Instagram.

I enjoy being on the computer, i.e. checking email, WordPress, Facebook and reading the news on a few sites. I just want to be able to compartmentalize them so that when I am with my family and friends, I can be “fully present.” How about you? How do you keep from being addicted to your social media and manage to be  “fully present” with those around you?

 

 

46 thoughts on “Where Do You Spend Most of Your Time? The Troposphere, The Stratosphere or The Blogosphere?”

  2. The temptation to check that numbered Facebook logo is real! However, the only lasting solution for me is to seek first God’s Kingdom and his Word. Scripture says in the end times people will run to and fro and knowledge will be increased. I know you would agree that both of those things are happening TODAY. I want my “knowledge” to come from the Good Book, and not from Facebook. It seems Satan uses our desire to be known by others to keep us from desiring to know the One who matters most. The time is short.

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  3. I rarely check Facebook. I don’t really like it. I do try to read all the posts of WordPress blogs I follow, and respond to comments made about my posts, but never do I bring out my phone or tablet when I have the chance to be visiting in person with a friend or family member. I have, on occasion, checked to make sure a text sent to me was not an emergency, but that only takes a few seconds.

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  4. I set aside specific time at the end of my work day (I am self-employed and social media provides a marketing platform for my work) to update and respond to social media/blogs. I only allow myself a specific amount of time. If I can’t sleep at night, I may check in to social media/blogs. But other than that, I steer clear. 🙂 ❤ ❤

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  5. When alone, I enjoy spending time in silence, writing with a pen or pencil, consulting books as often as possible. Then again, I am an introvert and a staunch bachelor.

    Social media has its legitimate uses, but it is a mistake, overall.

    Out in the world, with people, really listening to them is the best activity in which to engage.

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  6. I so enjoyed learning about the different layers of the atmosphere… and of course the delicious titles I’ve tucked away for emergence in some poem I’m sure.
    And what interesting observations you put forth dear Valerie!
    I can’t think of anything else that is equal parts positive and equal parts negative … such is the reality of social media and the devices we cling to. I am of the age that I vividly recall a time of no devices, where we would play in the outdoors and be present in every moment. Turn up on time to meetings with friends because we had no smart phone to say “I’m running late”.
    Ah the good days; yet what of these days? With all the information at our fingertips, with the friends made across the world and the ability to Skype etc with loved ones. Wow! What advances…. but the dark side is addiction, short attention spans and not being in the moment.
    I really cannot say more than “it’s the best of times, it’s the worst of times” and I do feel sorry for those more addicted than I, with my phone by my bed … unless I make a huge effort to remove it from the room.
    Thanks for a great post Madam!

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    • So glad to hear that I am not the only one that struggles with keeping social media in balance. I too enjoy the ability to keep in touch with those from around the world. WordPress is great fun in that sense…new vistas are opening up all of the time!
      I enjoyed your insightful nostalgic comment. I also grew up without electronic devices, and it was a different day, better in some ways.
      Like you, I love words and phrases and love how they play on the ear and the emotions. I think that is why I enjoy your poetry so much. I read it and the words tumble over and over in my mind and an evocative picture is created. Have a great evening ! ❤ ❤

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      • What a beautiful reply! So humbled Valerie, I was caught off guard with you bringing up my writing. I’m only just beginning to think I have a voice that others may want to listen to 😌
        And right now…inspired by our conversation I have turned off Netflix…having only watched half an episode of a show I’m following. I’m not checking in on Facebook again … instead reaching for a book. Going old school to dance with words 😊
        I hope your evening is as good as mine has turned out to be; the icing on the cake is talking directly to you 💟💟💟

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      • Yes, dear one…God has given you a gift with words. Words are everywhere, but the gift is the ability to make others stop and listen to them. When we can make others feel something or their imagination is sparked so they are forced to create a picture in their mind…that is the result of the gift. With television and movies the picture is there so no one needs to use their imaginations…it is done for them. It is the written word that sparks their imagination. The words and pictures we create stay in people’s minds. It is a heavy responsibility, but one that we are blessed to carry! As Yoda would say, “We must use it wisely!” 🙂 Blessings to you and yours today! ❤ ❤

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      • What a wonderful effect your words had this Sunday, dear Valerie.
        I let them sit with me all day, buoyed by your kindness and support …. how could I possibly reply to some of the most humbling feedback ever on my blog journey?
        Blessings received blissfully, concentrated and bounced back to you sweet Valerie 💥😊❤️❤️💥

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  7. although I have the blog, and I like it, do represent for me and who knows for other people, I do not have any other social network like Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, for example. email, yes, even for professional reasons. but, I have established rules and greatly limit the time of “electronics” in my life, including cell phone. I like the simplicity of walking the streets, being in a bookstore, cinema or even with friends in a cafe. and of course, the family always. I like to post every day because I have transformed this small space into a medium of communication. what I think and am is in each post, in each photograph, in each song, in each text. and getting to know other people around here has been a learned too, immense and rewarding.

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  9. I think each time we turn on our electronic devices (if we ever turn them off!), we need to resolve to limit our time on them. It is soooo easy to get carried away! It can distract from interacting with other people, but also from other activities I like to do by myself, in particular reading books (real books, not ebooks). Your post is a good reminder to be conscious of how precious our time is, Valerie. Thank you.

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  17. Nice write up. Internet in general, and the blogosphere in particular, are interesting and fun, but they are also time eaters and can be really mind numbing and, as you write, may tske a toll on our relationships. I believe that it comes to common sense to strike a balance. Perhaps as with other things as well. Cheers.

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