Despite growing up in Silicon Valley and working in the tech start-up hub of San Francisco’s SOMA district, I’ve had an aversion to technology for as long as I can remember. I keep a paper planner. I didn’t have a real smart phone (re: an iPhone) until June 2013. “Apps” were unknown entities to me, and I continue to have my mind blown with all of these newfangled contraptions to which my peers grew accustomed while I continued to live in the dark ages.

I hate staring at an electronic, glowing screen. After sitting for eight hours at work staring at my desktop, the last thing I want to do is continue to stare at, refresh, and surf my options on my iPhone. I’d much rather stretch my legs and do something far removed from a computer.

Worse than technology itself is the narcissism I associate with social media and other 21^st century inventions. When people post their three-mile run on Facebook, I can’t help but roll my eyes. Sure, I’m glad they’re putting in the effort to better themselves, but does this really need to be broadcast for all your friends, acquaintances, and that girl who lived in your dorm to see? It makes me wonder the psychology behind posting a 24-hour fitness check in on Facebook or a sweat-drenched selfie to Instagram. What kind of image are you trying to create for yourself? Is this how people express their identity in the modern age?

As I start this blog, I’m trying to convince myself that blogging, social media, and other manifestations of technology today aren’t narcissistic but rather commonplace forms of expression. But I can’t help but think about all the things I know (and don’t want to know) about my Facebook friends. Is nothing sacred? The private information people used to keep between friends is now broadcast for the world to see.

I’m choosing to embrace the internet’s ability to connect liked-minded people with similar interests and share my love of trail running, exercise, and healthy eating. Welcome to Single-tracked Mind!