In this gadget-oriented world, many of us have several to choose from.  There’s the MP3 player, e-reader, laptop computer, desktop computer, cell phone, smart phone and GPS, to name just a few.  In many homes, cords jump out of drawers and the disorganization can really take its toll.

When I am walking out the door, I always do a mental check to make sure I have all the electronics I need.  I’ve started realizing that perhaps I depend entirely too much on these gizmos and that my life might be a little simpler if I did away with some of them.

The trouble is, once you have experienced the usefulness of a particular gadget, it quickly becomes hard to remember how to function without it.  Each time I get closer to getting rid of a gadget, I remember how much I enjoy using it.

That leads me to the question I have for you: If you could choose only one gadget, which would it be?

I think for me, it would have to be my laptop.  Not only is that my connection to the outside world, but also my livelihood.  I really, truly could not live without it now.  My cell phone comes in a close second, though, and I would have a very hard time functioning without it by my side.  I have a smart phone, so my email, texting, credit card processing and even document reading are all integrated into it and I use them frequently.

While gadgets have surely enhanced our lives, they have also detracted from them and have caused a disconnect among our fellows.  Even if we can’t get rid of gadgets, perhaps we can start limiting the time we use them.  Reading the newest bestseller on the subway is a great way to pass the time, but when is the last time you paused to make eye contact and smile at a fellow human being?