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Is anyone else REALLY sick of chain e-mails? You know -- the ones where someone sends a prayer, poem, or joke with a call to action at the end. "Send this to ten people or something horrible will happen to you." I even got one promising more weight loss for more forwards.

I can always tell when a particular individual reads her e-mail. She sends me five to ten jokes and chain emails. She doesn't tell me about her family or ask how I am. Maybe one in 100 is personal. Is there any real communication happening? No

The latest from her was supposedly for a child's school project, but her children are grown, so I do not know -- nor do I care -- whose "assignment" it was. It asked me to follow instructions and bother ten people to do likewise. OK, it said send, not bother. Same thing. I was even marked as one who would follow through.

I am often deluged with junk from people I know. When I see attachments or anything in the subject line that doesn't look personal, I hit the delete key. I just don't have time to waste. Neither do you, I'm sure.

Time is one of our most precious personal resources. Why squander it on dribble? Anybody with half a brain cell knows nothing horrible will happen to you if you don't send an e-mail. An email is not going to sway your "luck," if you even believe in such a thing. Life will go on with or without the send command.

When someone sends an email, you don't have to read it. If you have become a slave to technology, it is time to turn the tables and become its master. Take a breath and think before reading an e-mail. Ask yourself, "Do I WANT or NEED to look at this?" If not, delete it.

Television is another example: If there's a show that's interesting or fun or otherwise worthwhile, great. Don't let the TV rob valuable time from what is truly important in your life or become an excuse to procrastinate. Make conscious viewing choices instead of watching something of no value to you.

The phone, tethered or cell is another example. Last night I was eating dinner at someone's house. The phone rang, and the husband answered it. I'm not saying he was "bad." He just didn't think. Had this happened at my house, I would have let voicemail get that call (which was a telemarketer, of course) and continued to enjoy an important event in my life -- dinner with people who are important to me. I realize sometimes it's necessary to be reachable, but we don't have to be at everyone's beck and call every minute of the day. When the phone rings, we don't have to answer.

Communication media should make life easier, better, or more convenient. I'm not suggesting we throw out our cell phones and computers, but if things designed to be helpful are causing stress, it is time to evaluate how we use them.

Centuries ago, news passed slowly on foot from town to town. Now, we have not only "snail mail," but also e-mail, cell phones, pagers, and streamers running under the TV news with yet more reports. We can always be in touch and informed. You'd think we would all be expert communicators, but we're not. It is so easy to lose track of what is truly meaningful in life and get caught up in minutiae.

Next time you're in traffic or in the shower, take a few minutes to consider what deserves your precious time and attention, and what does not. You're in charge!