Hello goils! I’m baaaack. Didja miss me? I missed you… for awhile.
Today’s post will be quick, just a check-in to say ‘yes, I am alive’ and ‘yes, there were some incredible lessons and changes’. In later posts, I’ll let you know the really good, the morbidly bad, and the monstrously ugly of unhooking from the internet.
I have to say that although I knew in my head that it would be good to take a month off from blogging and internet stuff, I was really not prepared for the application of it. At. All.
This was sort of a blind test although I did have some knowledge based on the article by Christie Glascoe Crowder over at http://typeaparent.com/going-off-the-grid-planning-and-surviving-a-digital-sabbatical.html. I honestly didn’t think it would make that much of a difference.
I was not prepared to discover the addiction I had actually developed, not only to blogging, posting, reading – but also to surfing, shopping, and researching. And the withdrawal symptoms I had to go through? Good grief. And the agony of how much I failed in the first week. Oh, OK, the first week and a half. And how disgusted I became with myself. And while I did not crawl into a corner to rock and whimper through withdrawals, t’was bad enough.
I was also not prepared for all the wonder, awe and blessing I discovered by doing this. I re-learned the art of taking time to enjoy scents, sounds, textures, views, and heartbeats. I listened to the wind shush through the trees, loving the icy sound. I noticed the brilliant colors of a sunrise and soaked them in. I rubbed the nap on my diva faux mink throw that I use when sitting in the living room, and really enjoyed the softness. I realized that the sunsets sometimes look like the world is on fire (pix above from my front yard).
It is like I became more aware of what was around me, not realizing at all that I’d forgotten how.
Alpha Hubby was gone two weeks of the 4 ½ weeks of January. I discovered that I missed the quiet sounds of him. Tinkering in the kitchen before he goes to bed at night. Breathing softly beside me in the dark. The humming sound he makes when he reaches out and touches me as he sleeps. The sqeech sound the floor makes when he slips out of the room in the morning. I do not sleep well when he is gone.
I missed the scent of him. Burying my nose in that special place under his ear, in the nape of his neck, to inhale his special fragrance mixed with his cologne. The fresh air bouquet he brings inside when he comes in from working outside. The faded cologne scent on his shirts and pillow kept me company.
I do not think I realized how much I hear him without realizing it. And as much as I love smelling his nape, I took it for granted. It had all gotten lost in the noise of life.
It isn’t necessarily the internet itself so much as how much it can suck life out of us. It is like we stop taking time to realize what is going on around us because the internet world becomes more real than the real world. There are precious things of value disappearing in the busy-ness of our life.
I discovered a lot of that busy-ness is not necessarily necessary.
Busy-ness causes you to miss your real life.
.
Nan, you were missed, lady! I am looking forward to reading your thoughts on what being unplugged was like. The other day I was commenting on a blog and saying that at times the Internet feels like so much work! I need to unplug myself for a while too. Perhaps I’ll do this in the summer. I read your account of missing the Alpha Hubby and all I could do is sigh. Sigh, woman. It must be wonderful to have someone you love so much that you miss the sound of his footsteps in the morning. Aw, lady. This is the stuff romantic dreams are made of! Thank goodness I always come to your blog to keep me grounded on what love is really like! Hugs! 🙂
Nan, you were missed, lady! I am looking forward to reading your thoughts on what being unplugged was like. The other day I was commenting on a blog and saying that at times the Internet feels like so much work! I need to unplug myself for a while too. Perhaps I’ll do this in the summer. I read your account of missing the Alpha Hubby and all I could do is sigh. Sigh, woman. It must be wonderful to have someone you love so much that you miss the sound of his footsteps in the morning. Aw, lady. This is the stuff romantic dreams are made of! Thank goodness I always come to your blog to keep me grounded on what love is really like! Hugs! 🙂
Even in the real world, I missed you!!!! So glad you’re back. So glad your husband’s back. I CANNOT wait to hear what you LEARNED!! The blogahood is a more beautiful place when you’re in it!
Even in the real world, I missed you!!!! So glad you’re back. So glad your husband’s back. I CANNOT wait to hear what you LEARNED!! The blogahood is a more beautiful place when you’re in it!
I’m impressed! I tried to spend a month offline last year, but then we had that huge earthquake in Japan and I started posting “we’re all right” updates for my family, and just like that I was completely reabsorbed into the system. Maybe I should try again though…you make the unplugged sounds tempting!
But welcome back anyway! We missed you!
I’m impressed! I tried to spend a month offline last year, but then we had that huge earthquake in Japan and I started posting “we’re all right” updates for my family, and just like that I was completely reabsorbed into the system. Maybe I should try again though…you make the unplugged sounds tempting!
But welcome back anyway! We missed you!
There you are! I missed you! So much that I cheated and emailed but shhhhhh. Very glad you are back and can’t wait to hear more about what you learned. Yay!
There you are! I missed you! So much that I cheated and emailed but shhhhhh. Very glad you are back and can’t wait to hear more about what you learned. Yay!
And what does uplugged have to with me being gone???????? See Yah tonight!!!!
And what does uplugged have to with me being gone???????? See Yah tonight!!!!
You KNOW I missed ya. Can’t wait to hear about all the stuff you learned about dis-connecting !!
Welcome back !!
You KNOW I missed ya. Can’t wait to hear about all the stuff you learned about dis-connecting !!
Welcome back !!
Good morning my beloved Nan! Oh how I’ve missed you. Sooooo much, in fact, I warn you I will be writing a book here today. Firstly welcome back. And also, thanks for the ecard. Loved it! And your post today? Wow. I am funny about the internet in that I seriously can take it or leave it. I get on only when I want to. I don’t expect anything more from myself or anyone else. Oh, I’ve been discouraged before after posting what I thought was a phenom of a post, only to have a handful of visitors to bask in its greatness. But I got over it. Now? I write. If they read, fabulous. I think Grad School has really added perspective to my life. And now that I have to balance a really crappy job in the equation, I have to walk away from social networking often just to keep from drowning.
I can also relate to your post in another way. Just a few short years ago, I was emersed in gambling in much the same way one gets addicted to the internet. No, I didn’t hit rock bottom or anything. I really am too smart for that. But. I damaged my life through my self-esteem and caused myself a lot of depression and self-doubt. I tackled the problem, however, much the same way as you tackled the internet issues. I walked away, took a very long haitus. And amazingly enough! it worked. Oh I missed it. But I got over it. I reclaimed my life through writing and school and making friends. Nowadays I rarely gamble, but when I do, it’s allure is gone. I get my HIGH from writing and my beautiful family and friends.
And you? Are one of those beautiful friends. Welcome back. You’ve been missed and you are so freaking loved by yours truly. XOXO’s
(sorry for my long-windedness)
Good morning my beloved Nan! Oh how I’ve missed you. Sooooo much, in fact, I warn you I will be writing a book here today. Firstly welcome back. And also, thanks for the ecard. Loved it! And your post today? Wow. I am funny about the internet in that I seriously can take it or leave it. I get on only when I want to. I don’t expect anything more from myself or anyone else. Oh, I’ve been discouraged before after posting what I thought was a phenom of a post, only to have a handful of visitors to bask in its greatness. But I got over it. Now? I write. If they read, fabulous. I think Grad School has really added perspective to my life. And now that I have to balance a really crappy job in the equation, I have to walk away from social networking often just to keep from drowning.
I can also relate to your post in another way. Just a few short years ago, I was emersed in gambling in much the same way one gets addicted to the internet. No, I didn’t hit rock bottom or anything. I really am too smart for that. But. I damaged my life through my self-esteem and caused myself a lot of depression and self-doubt. I tackled the problem, however, much the same way as you tackled the internet issues. I walked away, took a very long haitus. And amazingly enough! it worked. Oh I missed it. But I got over it. I reclaimed my life through writing and school and making friends. Nowadays I rarely gamble, but when I do, it’s allure is gone. I get my HIGH from writing and my beautiful family and friends.
And you? Are one of those beautiful friends. Welcome back. You’ve been missed and you are so freaking loved by yours truly. XOXO’s
(sorry for my long-windedness)
Life is full of changes for me so I did not realize you were gone. However I do enjoy your blog and even this post touched me in an unexpected way that had nothing to do with taking an Internet break (I get it though (: ). Welcome back!
Life is full of changes for me so I did not realize you were gone. However I do enjoy your blog and even this post touched me in an unexpected way that had nothing to do with taking an Internet break (I get it though (: ). Welcome back!
Nan-
I really missed you and thought about you often, more than you realize. I’m so glad that you took your time, and not that I am EVER worried about your state of mind, it’s wonderful to see you “sound” so great!
I’ll bet you missed him, huh?
LOTS you missed this month, but no one died:)
Welcome home, Woman.
Tracy
Nan-
I really missed you and thought about you often, more than you realize. I’m so glad that you took your time, and not that I am EVER worried about your state of mind, it’s wonderful to see you “sound” so great!
I’ll bet you missed him, huh?
LOTS you missed this month, but no one died:)
Welcome home, Woman.
Tracy
Well welcome Miss Annalyse (beautiful name, by the way). I do love those vivid sunsets – the are actually MORE colorful than my camera showed – they were such dark colors, it truly felt like you should see smoke above the yellow and oranges!
Well welcome Miss Annalyse (beautiful name, by the way). I do love those vivid sunsets – the are actually MORE colorful than my camera showed – they were such dark colors, it truly felt like you should see smoke above the yellow and oranges!
I had just discovered you when you went on this time off. I just wanted to say I enjoy your posts so much and have learned a lot about relationships. My husband is glad I found you, too. That sunset really does look like a prairie is on fire just over the hill! Those lavenders are so beautiful.
I had just discovered you when you went on this time off. I just wanted to say I enjoy your posts so much and have learned a lot about relationships. My husband is glad I found you, too. That sunset really does look like a prairie is on fire just over the hill! Those lavenders are so beautiful.
Yes, I missed you!!!!! I’m glad you learned that stuff though……just take mini time outs from now on 🙂
Is that your deck on that lake?
No, that is my dream deck and chairs! It was hard to come back, believe it or not. I almost resented it – doesn’t that seem unreal? I missed you, too altho I think I snuck in there once, didn’t I?
Yes, I missed you!!!!! I’m glad you learned that stuff though……just take mini time outs from now on 🙂
Is that your deck on that lake?
No, that is my dream deck and chairs! It was hard to come back, believe it or not. I almost resented it – doesn’t that seem unreal? I missed you, too altho I think I snuck in there once, didn’t I?
Welcome back!! I’m glad you survived your unplugging excursion. More than survived, clearly… you remind me of how I felt when I discovered that I didn’t need a tv. Except that now I’m on the internet all the time… ::sigh::
Oh man, I remember the first time I did a television blackout. I had to turn off the cable so it was cold turkey and painful – but so well worth it. Yeah, internet. Bad juju if you’re not careful!
Welcome back!! I’m glad you survived your unplugging excursion. More than survived, clearly… you remind me of how I felt when I discovered that I didn’t need a tv. Except that now I’m on the internet all the time… ::sigh::
Oh man, I remember the first time I did a television blackout. I had to turn off the cable so it was cold turkey and painful – but so well worth it. Yeah, internet. Bad juju if you’re not careful!
Welcome Back my friend!! … I have been toying around with a better time system for visiting blogs; reading posts/commenting and also for writing posts. I need to get back to working on my book ~ at times after being on computer blogging or just surfing … I’m too exhausted to sit and write. Can’t wait for you to share your discovering…xo HHL
That is one of the main reasons for the blackout – I needed to set up a better schedule for the two books I’ve been working on. I so agree – I get to surfing and reading and time flies by until the day is totally gone. No more of that, for sure. Let me know what system you come up with!
Welcome Back my friend!! … I have been toying around with a better time system for visiting blogs; reading posts/commenting and also for writing posts. I need to get back to working on my book ~ at times after being on computer blogging or just surfing … I’m too exhausted to sit and write. Can’t wait for you to share your discovering…xo HHL
That is one of the main reasons for the blackout – I needed to set up a better schedule for the two books I’ve been working on. I so agree – I get to surfing and reading and time flies by until the day is totally gone. No more of that, for sure. Let me know what system you come up with!
–NAN,
where did my comment go.
I missed YOU SO MUCH. Xx
–NAN,
where did my comment go.
I missed YOU SO MUCH. Xx
Oh yes Nan, I have missed you VERY much. I started my day with your posts (when you had them). I thought I might want to do an internet black out but after reading this, I’m not sure. It sounds like it was kind of hard to do? Welcome back anyway!
Oh yes Nan, I have missed you VERY much. I started my day with your posts (when you had them). I thought I might want to do an internet black out but after reading this, I’m not sure. It sounds like it was kind of hard to do? Welcome back anyway!
–Yes. I missed you very very very much.
***& I love that you re-learned the art of taking time to enjoy scents, sounds, textures, views, and heartbeats.***
“”””Heartbeats”””
I really love that.
Thump Thump Thump
Love flowing to you, Sweet Nan. Xxxxxxxxxxxx
You have no idea how much I wanted to sneak over to your site – an ENTIRE month! I did a little catch up today.
–Yes. I missed you very very very much.
***& I love that you re-learned the art of taking time to enjoy scents, sounds, textures, views, and heartbeats.***
“”””Heartbeats”””
I really love that.
Thump Thump Thump
Love flowing to you, Sweet Nan. Xxxxxxxxxxxx
You have no idea how much I wanted to sneak over to your site – an ENTIRE month! I did a little catch up today.