This past week a really good friend of mine gave up her cable. While that is admirable, I could never do that. Most of you know me as a pop culture fiend and if anything should pop in our culture and I missed it, it would be devastating to me. (Why? I don’t know, but that’s the way it is.)
Today my husband was here unexpectedly and we dove into our backyard revival project. The morning started off with visits to two plant nurseries and a stone place. Top that off with a grill place, lunch, and basically we covered two thirds of the cape. When we were done, we had a new grill, a firepit, and a whole new backyard.
During this whole time I left my phone in the car and didn’t even check it between stops. When we got home we were busy planting plants and laying out bricks. My phone stayed plugged in in the house. Next we we went to a cool little place for dinner. I never took out my phone. When we got home we built our first fire of the season (in the old firepit – new one is coming soon) and my phone stayed charging in the house. It’s now 9:30 and I retrieved it to write this post.
This morning I touched base with one daughter in NY to make sure she was okay in yesterday’s wild weather and later on I made plans to pick up Boston daughter tomorrow to go to NY for a wedding this weekend. That was it. No email. No words with friends. No Facebook. I stayed off the grid for the whole day.
How did that feel? Freeing. I spent the day living in the moment, appreciating my husband being here, and now, appreciating the first fire of the season together. Off the grid was great today. I can now fully appreciate what my friend is feeling on her third day of no TV.
Try it. Disengage for a day this weekend. Talk only to those who are at arms length. In this day of technology, it’s a new experience.
And so, as another day goes by, off the grid was really cool – no anxiety about not being connected at all, and…I have written.
Here is the best part of this post. When I went to check my Sparkpeople quote of the day, this was it:
Now try this when no hubby is around to complete your other half.
Think I’ll try it next week. If it feels good, I’ll try it more often.
Here’s to having choices!!!!
Great idea! I wonder, if we did this when alone how many great ideas we’d get! 🙂
I haven’t been writing lately b/c i’m busy gardening and yanking hosta out of my yard (they’re everywhere = NOT attractive)…. I must have caught the vibe about unplugging the TV (as you know, I’m not as “hip” as you with the “other” media!). Said to myself if I could spend the time writing intend…. Well, it seems like your post (and Christine’s unplug) is the universe nodding in the affirmative. Thanks for the nudge! 🙂
Hostas! We dig them up and give them away! I hate those things! Lol!