Unplugging can plug you into yourself
Oct 16th, 2008 by spaceagesage
During my recent media fast, it took five of the seven days to stop craving an email, blogging, or TV fix. Five days! During that time, I had a strong urge to feed my need to know what was going on with everyone I connect to online:
- What was going on in the 20 or so blogs I follow, especially the ones where many of the same folks comment all the time like friends?
- Who was saying what?
- What comments were being left here?
- Did any family or friends send me email (even though I told them I’d be offline)?
- Did my favorite photographer have anything new on Flickr?
- What about the people in the social media sites I know – what were they doing and saying?
I also missed the buzz of having cable news on. Even though I despise how the news anchors use emergency words to cover mundane news items:
- NEWS ALERT! Plane having wheel trouble plans to land any minute!
- LIVE UPDATE NOW! Car chase nearing 60-minute mark!
- BREAKING NEWS! The president will speak soon!
Despite the over-the-top descriptions of events in the news, I missed not being able to plug in at a moment’s notice and satiate my drive to know “What’s going on?”
After awhile, I realized … hmm … don’t they call this addiction?
Then I had to wonder, though, is my preoccupation with all these things — 1) an addiction 2) a self-medicating busyness to excuse away not finishing two books I’m writing or 3) a way to avoid the tougher realities of being a caregiver for my mom?
I found out it was a bit of all three!
What was I to do? I didn’t want to give up online relationships, I didn’t want to be beaten by my inner limitations, and I didn’t want to let caregiving wear me down.
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I’ll write more in my upcoming posts about how my media fast changed me and my online and TV usage, including how the unplugging process helped me become more centered and helped me renew interest in my e-book on self defense for everyone.
Now, how about you?
Does being “plugged in” rule you, or do you rule it?
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I don’t worry about it. Sometimes I feel like being plugged in, sometimes I don’t. I trust myself to do what’s best.
I agree that my blogging life is sortof like an addiction. However, I do make sure that I schedule time with my family everyday. By having regular activities with my kids, I ensure that for a good many hours I am off the web. I also make it a point to have an outing with my own friends at least once a week. It helps me to stay connected with the real world.
Sigh…I am finding it rules me. It’s awful. Tonight, the Lion and I have committed to a media fast. We are going to curl up and watch a movie together, but we are not allowed to touch our computers ONCE until tomorrow. Already I’m antsy!
We are having some serious discussions about how much time we can, and want to, invest in our online stuff. Your posts will be very timely!
Hi Jean,
That’s a nice head space to be in — trusting yourself, that is.
Hi Evelyn,
Sounds like you have found a balance between the two — glad to hear it.
Hi Urban Panther,
Thanks for the honest thoughts, and I hope it was a fun movie (perhaps The Net? ha).
Thanks for validating my posts that way, too. It warms the cockles of a blogger’s heart.
Hi Lori: About two weeks ago it was 12:30 at night and there was a tremor here in Panama. I live alone and I had twitter on. I sent a message via twitter saying: “I just felt two tremors.” Immediately one of my tweeter followers responded: “Oh no, I hope you’re OK.” It was a small tremor and nothing happened after that, but it was reassuring to get that message nonetheless. I guess what I’m trying to say is that media makes me feel connected, whether it’s watching the news and knowing what’s happening half way around the world, getting a tweet about a funny Sarah Palin web site, or getting comments on my blog.
I’m hoping to learn to tune into my intuition more about my online activities, so that the time will be easier and more productive. I’m finding it a strain at the moment – for example, I’m feeling stressed because I haven’t been able to visit many of my commenters blogs lately.
Hi Lori,
And I am on the same boat with Robin. Though internet is my only vice and the channel for connecting to the larger world, I am yet to find the ideal balance. I love reading and commenting, but as my network grows, I am starting to wonder if this activity is scalable….
Well, the answer is, it isn’t. As our blogs grow, so will our pool of readers, and try as we may to be personal and to care, there will come a point when we can’t do so.
Is that OK? Is that ethical? I don’t know yet. Yet, if we aim to be actually successful, that is a state we must actually pursue.
Weird and conflicting, isn’t it?
ari
Hi Lori. It rules me I’m sad to say (well not really sad because I’m enjoying it). It’s fairly new to me and I trust that I will eventually ground myself into a rhythm.
Hi Marelisa,
Feeling connected is great, I agree. Some of those making comments also make my day, especially when I realize we are on the same wavelength.
Hi Robin,
I’ve been struggling with the push to visit other blogs — and doing so with an intuitive flow, too. I want to interact with ease and a genuine heart, not feel obligated, ya know? I know I put the pressure on myself, so that’s where I need to address it all.
Hi Ari,
Balancing act indeed! I’m a pretty caring person, and I want to follow the online conversation with everyone because I’ve come to value and admire their life journeys, but, yes, finding the balance is tough.
Hi Davina,
There is a rush to it all, isn’t there? New or not, we all value that centered feeling of connecting with others in healthy ways.