I love this quote more than words can say. As an avid joy-chooser, I think it’s important to be hyper aware of joy-stealers. Comparison is definitely one of them, and for me, social media is often the culprit. Remember life before Facebook and Twitter and Instagram and Pinterest? When we all had razor flip phones and spent our free time hanging out in person and the only evidence of our daily lives existed through photos from our disposable cameras? I do. I remember that life. It was a simple life. Nobody knew where I was or what I was doing. My personal style was determined by me and only me…and maybe an occasional issue of Seventeen Magazine.
And now? Sometimes it feels like my whole life is consumed by my cell phone and computer. It’s how I make a living, schedule appointments, relay information to others, record memories, maintain friendships (to a certain extent), and even journal. It’s probably safe to say that without my cell phone and computer (and now iPad!), I’d feel rather lost. And yet, I’m longing to be lost. In a book. Or in a garden. Or at the beach. Or any place where I can touch things and hear things and not squint my eyes at a backlit screen.
I’ve heard of people doing digital detoxes, and Brett and I even tried it one weekend, but I think I’m ready to take this a step farther. I want to dedicate 24 hours a week to unplugging. No cell phone, no laptop, no iPad, no e-mails or tweeting or facebooking or pinning. I’m thinking Friday 5:00pm-Saturday 5:00pm. Just think of all the reading and cleaning and gardening and juicing and cooking I could accomplish in that time, with no silly internet distractions to disturb me. I COULD BE A SUPER-WIFE (!!!!!).
Well, for the next six weeks anyways. And then I’ll have a whole new wonderful distraction on my hands (who will, undoubtedly, help me stay off the internet). But in the meantime, I’m going to give it a try. What’s the worst that could happen? (Actually, the worst that could happen would be getting tagged in a horribly unflattering photo on facebook and then not being aware of it for 24 hours….can someone please be on the lookout from Friday-Saturday night? Kidding. Sort of.)
Do you need a digital detox? Care to join me for 24 hours a week?
