My latest and greatest plan to become a Superhero (more like a necessity than a plan) took form in an experiment to not get on Facebook last week (which has become a sick addiction for me as a stay at home mom, it sadly being my only source of human interaction that doesn’t involve hot dogs, tying shoelaces, and searching all three different locations where a clean pair of underwear could be for that ONE superman pair. No not THOSE ones, the RED ONES…) and also ditching the television completely. I say completely because I’ve already dwindled it down over the years, but was curious to see what it would be like with zero, zip, nada for 7 days. Let me tell you, it was fantastic. Holy CRAP there is so many hours in one day! For fucks sake there’s life to be living, instead of staring into a man made rectangle. Whether it’s laptop size or ridiculously large (thanks for the free TV Kathy). Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been back on Facebook but for a fraction of the time, and while I tried to watch a movie on day 8, I didn’t make it all the way through, and haven’t tried again since.
Within the first 48 hours:
- I cheated and checked Facebook. Didn’t respond to anything, felt guilty immediately, closed the entire laptop, and walked away shamefully.
- My music came back. I mean really came back, the way it’s supposed to be there. Strumming along in the back of my head all day long making me move around differently than everyone else in the room. I’ve been playing my keyboard since we moved into Maude, but I was reacquainted with my guitar, such an old and beautiful friend. Beat that Facebook.
- I discovered that I’m uncomfortable in silence. I never noticed it before. I think it’s because it makes the chaos that’s going on in my crazy, list making, over multi-tasking brain entirely too loud. So I’ve added, “being comfortable in silence” to my list of “Things to do in order to become a Superhero”.
- I danced. I’ve been working out by dancing for a while now, but this time it was different. This time I was BORED OUT OF MY MIND and wound up jumping around like I was in an 80’s music video. So I know it sounds silly, and romantic, but it was freeing. The kids thought it was hilarious, joined in, and we had this wonderful, childlike, corny, tear jerking moment together. Now I’m pretty sure I unknowingly do it while I’m making lunch, and have walked in on Jamis doing a damn good booty dance by himself if his bedroom.
- I chopped wood for hours. I had this insane rush of physical energy I’ve never felt before. I was all Hulk-ish, swinging away (with damn good aim I must say), splitting logs left and right. Then bringing them inside and using them as free heat for the house…there was something very Scarlet O’Hara about it. I’ve done it multiple times since then, and I think it just keeps getting better and better (not to mention making me smaller and smaller, SCORE)
Go you! I wish I could get away from the internet, but sadly it's the only way I can communicate with my husband while he is away. And he is always away :( It would even be easier if I knew what time he would be on so I could plan my internet time around that, but it's been pretty unpredictable thus far.
ReplyDeleteI have a love/hate relationship with tvs and computers.
I think we all have a love/hate relationship with technology. For some (like you) it's the only form of communication available! I work on the internet too, so it's not like I can trash the whole idea...I guess it's just spending enough time in the right places, and WAY less time in the wrong places. And you makin' eyes at Brian over the internet, miles away, is DEFINITELY one of the right places =)
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