twenty minutes

It’s been two weeks since I unplugged. 

I didn’t delete you as my Facebook friend. I didn’t block you either. Why are those the first thoughts that come to mind? 

Twenty minutes each morning is now spent doing things like...
Making a cup of french press coffee 
Running two and a half miles 
Doing a yoga pod cast
Packing a healthy lunch instead of eating a granola bar
Sleeping  
Giving extra love to Hazel 
Writing this blog

NHFH

I walked into the locked room at the gym yesterday morning and heard someone arguing on their phone. They were in the tanning booth. 

No one has amazed me like this in quite some time. Whoever you are, thanks for having a conversation on your phone while tanning. The experience reminded to unplug, to take a break from social media and become more aware of the world around me. 

It was a liberating feeling when I woke up this morning and realized that my day would not start with looking at Facebook posts. I’ve reclaimed that time for myself.

in the absence of clutter

the bond that i am the most proud of was formed in the absence of clutter

there was no tv 

there was no internet

it was in a time before the smart phone could remove you from the present moment with the touch of a button

without distraction, our intentions were focused solely on each other

it was stronger than ones formed in any other fashion, 

but that's not to say that the bond could not be broken (which it was)

but it is to say that it had more value 

and i took that lesson with me from the pieces that were left

and i have tried to use them to replicate it

but it hasn't worked

because every time we're in the car, someone turns on the radio

because every time we're having coffee, the phone is on the table

silence must be frightening

i prefer to live without the clutter

I'm baaaaaaack...

I deactivated my Facebook account on August 14th. I wanted to spend the final days of summer free from the tether of social media. 

No more than an hour later, I received a text from a friend asking me where my Facebook page had gone. 

There was nothing wrong with me. I didn't need to talk to anyone. I wasn't made at you. I didn't delete you. I didn't block you. I simply deactivated my account for a few weeks. 

Since then, my mornings have been much more productive. I read the news while having coffee or type an email to one of my friends from out of state or I write or I go to the gym or I ride my bike...and I don't miss Facebook nearly as much as I thought I would. In fact, I kinda forgot all about it until someone asks me if I saw a post on a mutual friend's page...and then they quickly remember I'm not on Facebook.

For better or worse, I am back...mostly, because people these days seem to be incapable of communicating outside the realm of social media. 

Face to Face

There are panhandlers stationed at various locations throughout the city. One of the most popular spots is at the light immediately after crossing the Ben Franklin Bridge.

I always dread when I'm stopped here because of the awkward exchange that takes place as someone passes by my window with a paper cup and cardboard sign. I've fiddled with the radio, pretended to be on the phone, and acted as if no one was there. It's not very often that I have spare change, but when I do, I'll toss it their way. Regardless of what I do, it's always an uncomfortable situation.

The other day I read an op-ed piece from the NY Times entitled "How Not To Be Alone." If I had a bible, this would be a page right from it. While it didn't necessarily speak on the topic of panhandlers, it did touch on humanity and the way in which technology has altered our ability to feel.

I thought about this later in the afternoon as I crossed the bridge into Philadelphia. I stopped at the light and was approached by a panhandler. I had nothing to give him, but looked him in the eye and told him so. To which he replied "God bless you, have a good day." The light changed and I was on my way, feeling a little more connected.

The Plan

For several years, I’ve dealt with “stomach issues” in various forms. It has caused me physical discomfort and emotional embarrassment. It has limited the type of activities I participate in, the length I can participate and where I can participate. None of these things left me feeling particularly good about myself. I spent a long time resigned to the fact that this is the way it would always be. Then, I found a doctor who got it right and it changed my life dramatically.

One component of managing this, and something that I have spoken about many times, is scaling back or down sizing. Living simply has made a significant impact on reducing stress in my life.

The second component is diet. In the fall of 2010, a friend of mine started the Paleo Diet. It seemed interesting and I began incorporating some of its principles (cutting back on processed foods) into my life. About a month later, I had a meeting with a nutritionist who suggested the Specific Carbohydrate Diet as a means to manage my symptoms.

Both “diets” call for the elimination of refined sugar, all grains and starch. Initially, this was a challenge. It forced me to spend more time in the kitchen, which resulted in a better awareness of the foods I was eating. Over the course of the last year, what I have (or more importantly what I have not) put into my body has played a big part in my overall well being.

It’s been just over a year since I committed to this lifestyle. My stomach issues are gone.

back to 2005

A couple months ago I purchased an iPhone. My Samsung flip phone, which I affectionately referred to as “2005” stopped working. Being my first “smart phone” the iPhone has been fairly easy to use and I transitioned to the touch screen without a problem.

I can’t say that owning a phone with a data plan has made my life infinitely better. In fact, I think I’m worse off, which is why I have chosen to ditch my iPhone for an old, used flip phone.