It was a crazy past week or so. Solshine accidentally spilled a full mug of lemongrass green tea onto our one and only computer causing complete chaos in our lives. One minute everything was life as usual and the next we were thrust into the stark realization of just how much of our lives revolve around our computer, the internet and technology.
After we remembered that they still make phone books and maps on paper, the panic settled down and I could reflect on what the blessings of the situation could be. At first it was hard to be thankful for an unexpected loss of an expensive and necessary piece of equipment, but after a few days the shock of being offline wore off and my blessings were apparent.
I was able to spend a week and a half really focused on my family and myself. I pulled out old journals and notebooks and reread our plans and visions and realized we were living out the dream we had dared to dream years ago. I was inspired to look ahead at the horizon and think about what we want next for our family. I started writing morning pages and dusted off my mandolin. We sat out on the front porch after the kids went to bed enjoying the summer nights quietly, together. I went to bed earlier and found that I’ve been seriously sleep deprived. The more sleep I got the better mom I was the next day. My house was cleaner and my to-do list became shorter as I knitted, organized, and weeded.
It was wonderful and now I have a much clearer picture of how I want to integrate the life I lived without a computer with my new, most fantabulous laptop. I want to bring more mindfulness into my day. I want to use technology to enhance my life and not get overwhelmed by the sheer mass of information out there. I have a new appreciation for the amazing ways technology works in our life and a reminder to keep my focus in the here and now of my family. I think it can be done and I plan on doing it!
Universe, I hear you: Balance it is.
Solshine, Thank you for providing me the experience of growth and clarity. You are precious in your ways.
It’s good to be back.
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I hear you! I need so much to get a better grip on that balance. Life is so…full… without the computer, but where would I be without all that I have learned from being so connected to all that information? More balanced, I guess…
I know. When I hear people dissing technology I think, “Oh, no!” The internet has brought me such wonderful connections and has allowed me to have access to amazing information.
Great shot of Solshine..The color tones are awesome!
wow my friend! what a beautiful gift.
(just so you know…you’ve been missed here. ;-)
What a blessing in disguise. I have been without a computer for about a week and I too noticed how less stressful things seemed to be.
That’s actually really awesome! I love when I am forced to be without technology for… a few hours… lol!
Congrats on the new laptop, anyway :)
Thanks for that. I get so engrossed by the information available and have such a need to feel connected to the rest of the world (via internet), being a new mother, that I need to remember what it was like before. I crave time in my garden, needle felting, reading, napping – but always feel like I am “missing out” on something in the world if I unplug. It wasn’t that way before I started a blog. But I get such satisfaction from writing and connecting with like-minded people that I keep coming back. So you are right – BALANCE is key!
Thank you!
every time i’ve taken a break i’ve felt so renewed and peaceful. ey the internet has brought and taught me so much and the connections i’ve made and “community” built are so important to me. you’re right – it is all about balance. it’s sometimes very tough to create that balance but so so so integral. in fact, now that i say that i think i need to get off my butt and feel accomplished in other areas today. lol
~tara
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