The Day's First Stop Is Online

In this fascinating article by Brad Stone, we learn that whereas families used to gather to eat breakfast, maybe look at the newspaper, and talk a bit; parents now check their e-mail and Facebook or Twitter accounts, and kids start each morning with text messages, video games, and Facebook. Some parents even text their children to get them up.

Technology has altered the once predictable rituals of the morning. Liz Perle, a mother in San Francisco is quoted as saying of her two teenage children: "They used to have blankies; now they have phones, which even have their own umbilical cord right to the charger. If their beds were far from the power outlets, they would probably sleep on the floor." The surge of early risers going online is reflected in heavy duty Internet traffic patterns.

Starting the day with technology is not a bad thing. This ritual could become a spiritual practice by the addition of a few flash prayers, gratitude practices, or mindfulness exercises. In the weeks ahead we'll provide some suggestions and resources.