Today marks one year since the move to West Virginia for our family. Last night, during a storm, our electricity went out. This was the first time this has happened since we’ve lived in our now not-so-new home.
Here in the mountains, we have poor cell phone reception at our house, so even internet on our mobile devices was not an option.
As I walked outside to look up at the beautiful, dark sky, a sense of peace washed over me.
It was quiet.
During this 31 day writing challenge so far, I have been connected to my computer or cell phone even more than usual. Whether it has been creating a website, reading blogs and connecting with bloggers, researching how to make a graphic ‘button’, joining a link up on blogs, searching for graphic designers to work with for website design, or watching how-to tutorials, I’ve had a lot of screen time.
But now I had no choice but to put it all aside. With our little ones in bed, the only thing that needed my attention in that moment was my husband. So in the glorious quiet of our dark living room, we sat by the light of only one candle, and we talked.
Oh how this pure connection made me wish the power would go out more often! And I have to admit, when it came back on an hour later, I was a little disappointed. Even as a young child, I always felt power outages were fun and a bit adventurous.
This has left me thinking today about how this disconnection, and hence connection, can be duplicated. It’s no news that with unlimited avenues to connect with others, we are more disconnected than ever with those right in front of us.
Although I am thankful for technology, at times, I wish a more simple life did exist - a life without television, cell phones, and social media. But since the internet isn't going anywhere, I have started to think of ways to disconnect from it and more intentionally connect with my family.
For me personally, it is a challenge to rest and relax when I know their is work that needs to be done. Even when I am not on a computer, I can feel distracted thinking about things I ‘could’ be doing instead.
Sid Caesar said it best that “In between goals is a thing called life, that has to be lived and enjoyed.”
This new venture we have been called to as Hope Artists will require me to be more mindful with time. I will have to make even more of an effort now to focus on the precious moments that are in front of me.
Boundaries will need to be set. Intentions actively engaged.
Have you struggled with technology? What boundaries have worked well for you and your family?
-- Stephanie
Photo credit: augenlicht by Westpark via Compfight
Here in the mountains, we have poor cell phone reception at our house, so even internet on our mobile devices was not an option.
As I walked outside to look up at the beautiful, dark sky, a sense of peace washed over me.
It was quiet.
During this 31 day writing challenge so far, I have been connected to my computer or cell phone even more than usual. Whether it has been creating a website, reading blogs and connecting with bloggers, researching how to make a graphic ‘button’, joining a link up on blogs, searching for graphic designers to work with for website design, or watching how-to tutorials, I’ve had a lot of screen time.
But now I had no choice but to put it all aside. With our little ones in bed, the only thing that needed my attention in that moment was my husband. So in the glorious quiet of our dark living room, we sat by the light of only one candle, and we talked.
Oh how this pure connection made me wish the power would go out more often! And I have to admit, when it came back on an hour later, I was a little disappointed. Even as a young child, I always felt power outages were fun and a bit adventurous.
This has left me thinking today about how this disconnection, and hence connection, can be duplicated. It’s no news that with unlimited avenues to connect with others, we are more disconnected than ever with those right in front of us.
Although I am thankful for technology, at times, I wish a more simple life did exist - a life without television, cell phones, and social media. But since the internet isn't going anywhere, I have started to think of ways to disconnect from it and more intentionally connect with my family.
For me personally, it is a challenge to rest and relax when I know their is work that needs to be done. Even when I am not on a computer, I can feel distracted thinking about things I ‘could’ be doing instead.
Sid Caesar said it best that “In between goals is a thing called life, that has to be lived and enjoyed.”
This new venture we have been called to as Hope Artists will require me to be more mindful with time. I will have to make even more of an effort now to focus on the precious moments that are in front of me.
Boundaries will need to be set. Intentions actively engaged.
Have you struggled with technology? What boundaries have worked well for you and your family?
-- Stephanie
Photo credit: augenlicht by Westpark via Compfight