"What Are You Doing With Your Time?"

Digital Detox is now over.  Yep, I'm back after all.  HA!  How did it go?  Well, to be honest, I'm not so sure how much of the virtual world I will actually add back into my life.  At first, there were some pains if you will, sharp desires to watch a show, surf the internet for something, or just check in on emails, but within the first few days or so, it was really quite easy to stay away, as the urges went away for the most part.

Many friends and colleagues would ask us, "What are you doing with your time?"  Well, that's the really cool and fascinating part.  Time really is relative.  It honestly felt like our day's were not just slightly, but significantly longer and fuller, far more than the actual few hours of time cut out from our virtual stimuli and entertainment.  It felt like we were really living life the way we were supposed to, more simply, content, and appreciative of everyone and everything around us.

We did do a lot of "just being" together, honestly not doing all that much really, or did we?  We did some reading.  We exercised more, went to bed earlier, and woke up more well-rested, and excited about what the new day might offer.  Now flexible and generous with our time, we talked together more as a couple and as a family about all kinds of things, demonstrating kindness and compassion around some of the life challenges we were facing.  We played family games, positive and playful, with numerous full-on belly laughs...you know the ones I'm talking about.  Much more than before, we began to see everyone and everything around us in a focused, genuine, and fully present way without so many virtual influences crying for our constant attention.  We were more accepting of others and life, feeling somewhat more at peace, at ease, and genuinely happy.  We even taught my youngest boy how to finally ride a bike.  Nice work Isaac!  It's amazing what happens when you have more time.  Heh...perhaps it won't be so hard to let go after all. 

Digital Detox, Here We Come!

I have to admit, one of the ways I can get caught up in 'Chasing' and consequently missing what's most important to me in life is getting wrapped up in the countless, growing virtual world of constant, 24/7 social media and digital entertainment.  What's new and exciting out there?  There is so much grabbing for our attention and focus via alerts from our myriad of devices.  So much to try and keep track of and stay on top of, that precious little time is left for anything else we might consider more important, like perhaps genuinely being present 100 % with one another for a real conversation, like the good old days when we weren't all digitally connected.  Our virtual intoxication has become so common and habitual that even when our electronic devices don't alert us directly, don't we often go looking our self, as if there is nothing else we might do with our time?  I wonder, have we already become a world of unconscious, "human doings" versus "human beings", unable to simply remain still and just be, without the external stimulus of virtual entertainment?  Can you even remember the time when none of this was around?  It wasn't that long ago.  How are we spending our time, that one precious resource that can never be replenished?

Kim and I have been talking...okay Kim has been talking for quite some time now...about trying out a little experiment, a "digital detox" if you will, to see what might happen if we avoid all screen time for just one week.  I know, crazy right!?  Well that digital detox begins right now.  Kim and I will have absolutely no screen time from home, except for at work of course where it is unfortunately a must today.  We will not venture onto the internet, read emails, look at any form of social media, and ban all TV and video games.  Yep, you heard that right.  No video games, well for me at least.  The kids can still play of course once school work is complete.  One thing at a time I suppose.

Truth be told, not sure what might happen with this little experiment, if anything at all?  We will let you know in one week what we discover.  Or perhaps we simply won't come back at all?  HA!  Who knows?  We invite anyone who wants to reach out to us, please do so the old fashioned way, via phone call or better yet, drop on by for a visit.  You may remember, we used to do those quite a bit more often way back when.  Everyone have a terrific week...or more.  We are going off the grid baby!  Digital detox, here we come! 

What's Your "Cucumber"?

A friend of ours recently purchased an awesome, four door truck with huge, oversized tires and a body lift.  Wow!  What a cool ride.  As I looked at the photo Kim shared, I thought about how much I love trucks.  Wouldn't it be cool to have one like this myself?  Suddenly I found myself not as enamored with my Toyota 4runner anymore.  Wait a second.  Didn't I think to myself just yesterday that this has been my absolute favorite vehicle I've ever owned, including two trucks previously?  What gives?  Why did I feel like I needed an awesome new truck?

Then Kim showed me the attached video her sister shared with her that brought into clear focus for me how 'comparing', and to some extent 'competing' and 'chasing', were starting to take hold of me.  Isn't that monkey funny?  Perhaps more funny, don't we all sometimes do like that monkey, suddenly no longer satisfied with our "cucumber", whatever it happens to be, compared to the "grape" the other monkey is getting?  Isn't it funny how often we are perfectly content and happy with what we have, almost always well beyond sufficient for our needs, only to see someone else with something "better" or "more" and suddenly think, what we have isn't good enough?  Hmmmn.  Time to practice being 'grateful and content' again today.  Guess my 4runner is still just as awesome as yesterday.  What's your "cucumber" today?  What's your "grape"?

Sai Ong's Horse

There once was an elderly frontiersman--Sai Ong as he was known--in ancient China who made his living largely by the single horse that he owned.  One day, the horse got lose from the stable and ran off.  Sai Ong was unable to find him.  When the local villagers heard of this, they came to share their concerns and sympathy for Sai Ong.  "What a tragedy.  However will you get by now?"  Sai Ong replied calmly and seemingly unaffected, "Maybe yes, maybe no.  How do we know this is not a blessing in disguise?" 

Weeks later, Sai Ong's horse returned with another wild horse from the plains.  Suddenly, Sai Ong was twice as fortunate as before.  The villagers came, "Sai Ong, you are so lucky!"  He replied, "Maybe yes, maybe no.  How do we know if this doesn't prove a misfortune?"  The villagers looked on in bewilderment.

A few days later, Sai Ong's son went about training the new horse and was thrown, breaking his leg.  The villagers came to say, "Oh no, Sai Ong!  This is awful.  Who will work with you now?"  Again as before, Sai Ong replied, "Maybe yes, maybe no.  How do we know this is not a blessing in disguise?"  The villagers couldn't believe what they heard.

A few months later, China went to war with the barbarians beyond the Great Wall and the overwhelming majority of men who fought died.  Sai Ong's son was sparred this fate, unable to fight with his broken leg. While most families lost their men of fighting age, Sai Ong did not.   

Doesn't life throw challenges our way that at first seem terrible, but in time, most somehow prove otherwise?  Rolling with the punches and sailing the seven C's can be so challenging when things are at their worst.  Yet, perhaps everything does really happen for a good reason?  Maybe yes, maybe no.  In our worry, anxiety, even anger, can we somehow see the wonderful possibilities yet to be discovered in this wonderful life?  Doesn't every dark cloud hold a silver lining?  Can we see how even seeming misfortune will soon prove a fortune once again?  Can we remember the story of Sai Ong's horse?