"Do you have multiple cell phones? Take your ipad to the beach on vacation? Ever find it hard to get through a conversation without posting an update to Facebook? Is your computer always on?
"We increasingly miss out on the important moments of our lives as we pass the hours with our noses buried in our iPhones and BlackBerry’s, chronicling our every move through Facebook and Twitter and shielding ourselves from the outside world with the bubble of 'silence' that our earphones create.
"If you recognize that in yourself – or your friends, families or colleagues— join us for the National Day of Unplugging, sign the Unplug pledge and start living a different life: connect with the people in your street, neighborhood and city, have an uninterrupted meal or read a book to your child.
The National Day of Unplugging is a 24 hour period – running from sunset to sunset – and starts on the first Friday in March. The project is an outgrowth of The Sabbath Manifesto, an adaption of our ancestors’ ritual of carving out one day per week to unwind, unplug, relax, reflect, get outdoors, and connect with loved ones."
Hmmm. I read something the other day that talked about how we are taught from a young age not to interrupt -- it's rude. And, yet, we interrupt ourselves (or allow ourselves to be interrupted) all the time. So true, right? I'm engrossed in a book in the evening and my phone dings to let me know I've got a new email. (Insert bookmark and swipe finger across phone screen.) Oh, good, it's a shipping notice for my soap making supplies. Then, I notice the little icon hovering over my FaceBook button. Oh, look -- someone tagged me in a FaceBook post. (Click on FaceBook tab.) 30 minutes later I'm all caught up on how everyone I've ever known has spent their day. Now, what was I doing? Oh, yeah, enjoying a book.
Those tabs in our internet browsers or app buttons on our phones or the equivalent, sure do make it easy for us to switch gears and cover a lot of mental ground quickly. And, there are some times that that's great. Other times, though, it would be good to be a little less distracted.
Agree? Want to unplug with me? Check out the link below to sign the pledge to unplug on the National Day of Unplugging.
http://nationaldayofunplugging.com/