Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.As it often happens, my husband came to me with a good idea. After reading a blog post from a friend who had decided to do the same, he said, "I'm taking a week off from social media," he told me. "No Facebook, no Twitter." Impulsively I decided to join him, knowing that it would be easier to keep to if we were both doing it, and feeling weirdly excited for an 'excuse', as if I needed permission to disconnect.
I love social media. It keeps me connected to far flung friends, affords me support for different pursuits from people all over the world that I would not otherwise have, and gives me a way of sharing in people's lives that is nothing short of miraculous.
There's only a couple of problems. One, I find myself almost addicted to that relentless connection. To that illusion of multitasking, always checking to see if there is something new. Two, I started to lose my connection to silence, to deliberation, to doing one thing at a time and giving it my full attention. So taking a break afforded me the chance to remember how I used to do things before I had that constant hit of information and interaction at my disposal. And it was good. I also noticed that I was less focused on the negative, in ways both petty and grand. There was no opportunity to dip a finger in gossip. Or that nasty little taste for schadenfreude that we all have trouble admitting we have.
Commitment to stillness is a lot like commitment to exercise. Practice makes us strong and able. Practicing stillness makes us calmer, comfortable with less input, less "noise". And I think we need it as much as we need to move. So I'll be back 'online' tomorrow, but I am adding regular breaks from being online to my practice of the 'Whole 9' principles. I have a suspicion that being less connected will ultimately result in my being better, more meaningfully and mindfully connected.
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6 comments:
I, for the most part, have decided to not connect. Other than FB, to keep connected to the likes of you and your siblings, the most gadgety thing I have is a tracfone in case my car breaks down and my kindle. It works for me as I continually try to simplify, simplify. Congrats on your sessions of unplugging!
I need to do more of that - you are an inspiration Kimberly - although I miss your in put.!
I need more of that and less of this. God even tells us to be still and know that I am God. Working towards a more complete me.
Every year, we schedule a camping trip with friends so that we completely disconnect for 3 days. No phone, no TV, no cell or wifi. Heck, there isn't even electricity. Okay, so we have to walk a bit to get to the flush toilets and the hot shower...but that walk truly makes you think about it twice.
I am the most happy in those 3 days. I love disconnecting and not feeling guilty about it. I think we need to do more of it.
Have fun!
I also LOVE social media - however - it's just as exhausting as it is exhilarating.
That's why I always choose at LEAST one full day - per week - to steer clear from all things internet.
I don't know if I could do a whole week, though. Not sure I would want to be that unconnected.
At the heart of simplifying, for me, is peace. When I get past that initial panic, as if a security blanket is being pulled out of my hands, any effort of simplification just feels right. And Lin, getting out in the woods is absolutely crucial for my happiness. I figured that out after we moved to a town that is surrounded by state forest. I feel like I breathe my soul back into my body out there. It did seem daunting, at first, Meleah; I felt like a person who'd quit smoking...I kept reaching for my tablet and I became mindful of how many times a day I had the urge to mash that little blue button....after a couple of days it wasn't so bad. It gave me time to prepare mentally for this month's challenge. I did feel like I was back to school after Christmas break, though. :)
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