Anyone who has lost track of time when using a computer knows the

Host: The office was quiet, except for the soft tapping of keys on a keyboard and the occasional hum of the computer monitor. Outside, the world was moving — cars passing by, people walking down the street, the usual pulse of the city. But inside, the world felt like it had narrowed to the space of the screen, the soft glow of pixels illuminating Jack’s face as he sat at his desk, absorbed in whatever task had drawn him in.

Jeeny sat nearby, a cup of tea in her hands, her gaze shifting between him and the quiet hum of the world outside the window. It was the end of the afternoon, the sun dipping low, and the room was filled with that quiet energy that comes with the passing of time.

Jeeny: (her voice light, breaking the silence) “Tim Berners-Lee once said, ‘Anyone who has lost track of time when using a computer knows the propensity to dream, the urge to make dreams come true and the tendency to miss lunch.’”

(She smiled as she watched him, knowing the truth of the words, seeing the way he had become absorbed in the screen in front of him.) “You ever feel like that? Like you lose yourself in the screen and forget everything else?”

Jack: (without looking up, his voice distracted but amused) “Yeah, I guess I’ve lost track of time a few times. And missed lunch more than I care to admit. It’s easy to get lost in the world of the computer — so many possibilities, so much to dive into.”

Jeeny: (smiling knowingly) “It’s like a rabbit hole, right? You go in looking for something small, and before you know it, you’re down there dreaming up all sorts of ideas, building things in your head. But in the process, you forget about everything else — the time, the food, sometimes even reality.”

Jack: (nodding slowly, his fingers still moving on the keyboard) “It’s strange, isn’t it? The way the screen almost becomes a universe of its own. You start with one thought, and it spirals into something bigger. It pulls you in. You can spend hours lost in it, trying to make the things you dream of real.”

Jeeny: (with a light chuckle, leaning back in her chair) “I guess that’s part of the magic of it. The ability to create, to dream, to make things happen — all in the span of a few keystrokes. But it’s easy to forget to come up for air.”

Jack: (pausing, a thoughtful look crossing his face) “Yeah, I suppose it’s easy to get so caught up in the potential of it all that you forget the most basic parts of living. Like lunch, for example.”

Jeeny: (smiling softly, her voice a little more serious now) “I think it’s that feeling of possibility that makes it so powerful. The urge to create, to make something happen. But that kind of drive can be all-consuming if you’re not careful. You can get so focused on making your dreams come true that you forget what’s important in the process.”

Jack: (finally looking up from the screen, his voice quieter now) “That’s a fine line. The excitement of dreaming, of creating... but not losing yourself in it. Not letting it take over everything.”

Jeeny: (gently) “Exactly. It’s the balance, right? The dream is important, but so is the moment. So is stepping back and remembering to live in the now. To take breaks, to enjoy the simple things. Otherwise, you risk missing out on everything else, including lunch.”

Jack: (laughing softly) “Yeah, that’s true. You can’t be so absorbed in your creations that you forget to nourish yourself.”

Host: The light in the room began to soften, the warm glow of the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the desk. The screen in front of Jack seemed to fade into the background as the conversation shifted from the world of code and design to something more grounded.

Jeeny: (smiling warmly, her voice light) “It’s not about losing track of time — it’s about using it wisely. Dream, create, but also take a step back and enjoy the process. That’s when the real magic happens.”

Jack: (nodding, a small smile playing at the corner of his mouth) “I think I needed that reminder. Maybe I’ll take a break and grab some lunch. I’ve got a few dreams to chase, but I don’t want to forget to live in the process.”

Jeeny: (grinning, teasing him lightly) “Good idea. And you can always dream about the lunch while you’re eating it.”

Host: The room grew quieter, the hum of the computer now fading as Jack stepped away from the desk. Outside, the city continued on, unaware of the small moments of clarity being shared inside. In the stillness, the idea of balance hung in the air like a promise — that it was okay to dream, to create, to be absorbed in the process. But it was equally important to step back, to nourish yourself, and to remember that life wasn’t just about the destination. It was about the moments in between.

And as Jack took his first step toward the kitchen, it felt like he was finding the balance — between work and life, between dreaming and living, between the screen and the world beyond it.