What I Learned Without My Laptop
A few weeks ago my darling MacMoodle had to go to Apple Hospital to get her screen fixed. When the guy behind the counter told me it would be 5-7 days before I could pick her up, you could have knocked me over with an exhale.
It's 2016 for goodness sake! What paid service takes that long anymore?!
Not only do I run my business from my laptop, but I also spend the majority of my time reading, researching and connecting with others (okay, sitting on Facebook) online.
"Nope, this is great," I thought after my initial freak-out. "I've been wanting some tech-free downtime for a while now and this is the Universe's way of delivering. Let's just embrace it."
The first night was the hardest.
I don't have a TV at my house you see, so when I say I was alone, I mean really it was just me and the sun going down outside my lounge room window. I lasted about ten minutes before I panicked and tried hacking into my housemate's laptop to watch Netflix while she was at work. No luck.
I had a realllly long shower, made tea and sat on the couch. I had music playing, blank paper and a whole evening stretching out in front of me with nothing to do. I took a few deep breaths and suddenly, a wave of happiness washed over me. I don't know where it came from or how, but I was giddy.
And then I started writing, a series of thoughts making their way onto the page in quick succession. Without distractions, the words flowed quickly and effortlessly. For the first time in months, I wasn't worried about checking Facebook or having to fill in time with episodes of Suits, I was wholly and completely present.
The week that followed was freaking blissful and chock-a-block full of juicy soul lessons that I wrote down - with pen and paper - and couldn't wait to share with you.
Here is what I learned without my laptop:
1. I actually like my own company, and I think that's really important. I used to hate being by myself because it meant the voices in my head I’d spent all week suppressing with alcohol, food and meaningless sex would start coming up for air. These days my inner dialogue is a lot kinder, I can turn down my ego (inner critic) when it comes up, and the rest of the time I'm either dreaming up new ideas or cracking inside jokes with myself (I think I'm hilarious). Living without my laptop reminded me of how important it is to build a loving relationship with yourself.
2. The idea that we need to be connected to feel connected is 100% bullshit. Remind me again why we have to keep up with what celebrities are doing on Snapchat? Your life is just as valuable and important as Kim Kardashian’s and the less you engage in manufactured Hollywood drama, the more time you have for investing in and creating your own wild and wonderful life.
3. I remember my dreams! As a way to cope with the dark night of the soul I experienced during the first half of this year (more on that later), I got into the habit of self-soothing by watching Netflix when I went to sleep. This week, I started turning my phone off before I went to bed and reading a book instead of scrolling. Not only did I wake up feeling more rested, I started remembering my dreams vividly the next morning and have every night since! The next step is to buy a dream journal to see what patterns and messages from other realms emerge.
4. Creating sacred space is important. In a society so obsessed with doing, do we know how to just 'be' anymore? Whatever happened to those in-between moments? You know, the time when we're not eating, sleeping, working or even sipping on a cup of tea? How many of us even have those gaps anymore? Our pauses are filled by messages and re-runs and I think we're missing out on a chance to listen, find out how we really feel and for ideas and creative inspiration to find us.
It was boring at first, and hellishly uncomfortable, but this week, I saw places I’d been settling for less. My inner dialogue got clearer and I could trust the intel I was getting was coming from my internal guidance.
The thought of going back to technology feels... icky. I don't want to open unread messages, and I don't care who tagged me in a post on Facebook.
I feel more powerful as a creative and less at the mercy of outside influences. I can choose the resources I need.
I’m not a product of the culture, I’m creating it.
Technology is amazing and we’re so lucky to live in a time where we can connect and share ideas in this space, but we have to put the phones, laptops and social platforms back in their place; as tools, to educate and engage with one another, not a substitute for reality that takes over our lives. We’re in control, not the other way around.
Don’t wait for your computer to die to experience this kind of clarity, connection and inner peace. I dare you to put your laptop away for the rest of the day or the rest of this week and see what happens (Heads up, the more you are resisting this idea, the more important it is for your soul's evolution).
Up for the challenge?
Let me know in the comments so we can support each other along the way.
