I often feel like I want to hurl my iPhone into a lake...but then I need it for GPS (I have zero sense of direction) and shopping coupons. Plus, I like playing Wordle, Squardle, Connections, and Waffle (word games can't be bad, right?!?). I HAVE gotten rid of social media apps, which was definitely a good decision.
Were I to carve out an exception for my phone restrictions it would definitely be for word games. Honestly, they're the one thing I really miss. Before Lent I played Wordle every day with one of my daughters—we'd screenshot our results and text them to each other, usually late at night before one of us headed to bed. It was a fun little daily connection and a sweet way to end each day.
Good for you giving up the social media apps. I'd already done that and didn't miss them, but the truth is, I could easily use my browser app to get to the sites when I wanted to, so not having the direct apps didn't really stop me visiting the platforms on my phone, lol. Next step might be to delete my social media accounts. But it feels so . . . final. I'm guess I'm still too attached to keeping my option open. Sigh.
Leah, I don't want to try to persuade you to write more, but there's some kind of a horrified wonder I feel right before I read your stuff. And I use those words because pretty much everything you write is a mirror to my soul as well as just my day-to-day experiences. Your essays resonate so hard with me. I feel like I'm walking a parallel path that is just an arm's length away from you. These same thoughts you express in this essay have been roiling around in my head over the last couple weeks. The difference is I still succumb to my information junkie self with little restraint.... But lots of thoughts about how I need to unhook. Spring gardening helps. ♥️
Spring gardening is a balm for much of modern life.☺️ And I think it's so cool and not too surprising that we seem to be walking such parallel paths; my sense of synchronicity in our observations and outlooks on life goes back decades, to when our kids were small. I'm grateful we can be journeying alongside one another despite our ridiculously rare visits.💕
I totally understand this sentiment, Leah. I took facebook off my Iphone. It was SO distracting. Now I am purposely leaving the phone somewhere else...and only checking it now and again throughout the day...(I have to for clients) but I do also gravitate to the computer...and still it isn't as often...just too much drama there. Way too much.
Yes, Gwen—way too much. Although it's kind of an inverse comparison, I keep thinking of the Grinch's line where he bemoans the "noise, noise, noise, NOISE!" At least the little kids of Whoville were celebrating the joy and fun of Christmas. In today's world the noise just sounds like the gnashing clamor of hell. Which makes my impulse to seek entertainment in it worth a little self-reflection. I think a lot of the harm being done is camouflaged by all the online distraction. The real world is where real solutions and healing will happen.
Enjoyed your essay and felt compelled to make a few comments.
The challenge is staying inormed without being overwhelmed...it was called situational awareness in military aviation. Lots of substack sources give overviews not specifics which that bill, I chose a couple.
Substack has become a vast army of investigative jounalists...there's synergy in numbers and as a result there shouldn't be a compulsion to comment on everything.
I agree, quality over quantity and for my own writing every 2 weeks is sufficient. I eschew social media as being to disjointed and superficial. Podcasts can be informative but are time sinks. I prefer thoughtful longform essays. I subscribe to a lot, open each so the writers metrics aren't negatively impacted but only read the ones that strike my fancy on that particular day.
Finally, I delete all emails over 2 weeks old, if I haven't read them by then, odds are I never will.
Thanks, Dick. I appreciate your thinking, and especially this useful and thoughtful approach: "I subscribe to a lot, open each so the writers metrics aren't negatively impacted but only read the ones that strike my fancy on that particular day."
Please remain in the battle but do not fret about frequency. You role is the express yourself in the written word with clarity and conviction. For me, your assessments are usually right over the target 🎯. Thanks for your kind words regarding Celia's rebound 🪃! Sky Chief has this.😎
I enjoyed reading this. Good for you! Enjoy your life, and be grateful in it. The rest will fall into place. If we're being honest, breaking the addiction to the "black-mirrored devices" is, sadly, one of the most important challenges many of us face in these crazy times. Your words made me stop and ponder on how much those devices are actually what's contributing to the crazy.
Thank you, Sue. Enjoying life with gratitude—that's definitely the call I'm hearing. I do expect it will become easier in direct proportion to how much of my attention is grounded in the real world.
Sunday blessings from my equatorial living hangout in northeast Brasil.
I am supportive of the quality of your expression, not the quality.
Yes, American politics is entertaining. Prime time comedy. It is not about We The People . It is all about the political elites we continue to reelect to represent us but they merely represent themselves and gain financial security. Morning questions to staff: 1. How are we doing with our donors? 2. When is my next TV interview?
My wife is addicted to her IPhone and spends a good bit of time on her laptop with her online education consultantation business. Her eyesight, neck and lower back challenge her wellness. At my insistence, she is being evaluated by Rheumatology and Opthalmology specialist.
For Leah, I look forward to your quality writing at whatever frequency you choose.
For Leah and my wife, Celia, I pray for physical, mental and spiritual wellness. Speak to Sky Chief. HE is listening.
Thank you for these prayers, FtB. It's amazing to me how easy it is to get sucked into the drama/comedy/tragedy even seeing it for what it is. The divisive energy is truly deranging society as it holds us individually in thrall. But I think there is no fully opting out, at least not for me, because there really is a battle to be waged and won, a Darkness trying to win the day through chaos and rage. So as I see it, each open heart is called to find their place in the fight, to help win the day for Light. I think that's where I am—trying to figure out my role and take it on with courage and faith. I'm grateful for your encouraging words and will pray your wife finds her way to optimal wellness.
I applaud your effort to resuscitate the thoughtfulness in your life. I hope that you will be a role model for others, most especially the young. I am 77 years old and remain a news junkie but I keep an emotional distance from what is happening. Being a Christian, I know that it is God who is in control and not Trump or the Dems. I find the postings on Substack to be so refreshing and spend more time reading them. Thanks for your honesty. I pray that you will find peace without monastic disengagement.
Thank you for your kind words and prayers, George. Being able to relax about writing against a deadline will help a lot, I suspect. It's the constant noisy clamor of the endless arguments that has been getting in the way. Being able to step back and create quiet space to hear myself think will be a huge relief.
What's up my friend. I am picking up what you're putting down. Came to the same conclusion myself. From another route. But we all wind up in the same place, huh. Had this thought yesterday: nothing NEEDS to get done. There's no NEED to write. (or clean or cook or *achieve* or... or... or...) and that thought took the pressure away of feeling OBLIGATED to do any of those things, and then the most curious thing: I went and did the things. I wrote, did a little laundry, emptied the dishwasher... The conflict dropped along with the insane pressure I put on myself to DO THINGS. You believe in God. God's plan? God's will? Have you tried doing NOTHING out of sheer curiosity? To see what moves you? What moves through you? That's what I've been up to. I was on a 97 week publishing streak and then—NOTHING. It's been liberating. (Do I protest too much? Maybe? Does it matter?) Also because—in my case anyway—I was adding to the world's conflict. FIGHTING this ideological plague and making a MESS. Fighting to be RIGHT. When all I really want is to be free. I'm thinking I'm developing this thing—this FAITH. I learned to trust it from you.
Ooooh, yes! We are at similar crossroads, trying to figure out how to participate in the conversation usefully when it's so defined by conflict and noise. And I get your "nothing" question. How we hold the experience of agency in our lives has SO MUCH to do with the ways we feel satisfaction, joy, and motivation. Experiencing our actions as choices rather than obligations is a core principle in the unschooling approach we took with our kids. There is something very liberating in examining our habits of mind and life, and recalibrating our expectations of our selves, getting clear on what we are doing and why. Love you friend. I've been holding you in my thoughts, prayers, and heart.
I always told moms (and myself!) who complained about parenting and then said, "What choice do I have?" (which is a victim stance) that they (we) could always drive our kids into the river. Every day we have a choice. We could hop on a greyhound to never return. The choice to stay and deal gives us agency and power. Just like you say. Love you too Leah. Hearts!
I hear you on the triaging, though I find that even as I pare down sources I keep finding new ones to take their place. Ugh. As far as prognosticators go, I only have one source I rely on (attorney Robert Barnes) and that's because his predictions are so grounded in understanding the political, legal, and historical landscape that he's more often proven right than wrong. He has a very particular POV—populist, champion of the the Little Guy against the institutions/corporations/elites—but since that is a framework I support I find him worth my time.
This resonates powerfully with me: "I have come to accept that knowing what's really true is elusive....Taking in information without struggling to form a conclusive view feels more peaceful." Indeed. I'm feeling rather exhausted by opinions these days, including my own.
I often feel like I want to hurl my iPhone into a lake...but then I need it for GPS (I have zero sense of direction) and shopping coupons. Plus, I like playing Wordle, Squardle, Connections, and Waffle (word games can't be bad, right?!?). I HAVE gotten rid of social media apps, which was definitely a good decision.
But yes, quality over quantity always!
Were I to carve out an exception for my phone restrictions it would definitely be for word games. Honestly, they're the one thing I really miss. Before Lent I played Wordle every day with one of my daughters—we'd screenshot our results and text them to each other, usually late at night before one of us headed to bed. It was a fun little daily connection and a sweet way to end each day.
Good for you giving up the social media apps. I'd already done that and didn't miss them, but the truth is, I could easily use my browser app to get to the sites when I wanted to, so not having the direct apps didn't really stop me visiting the platforms on my phone, lol. Next step might be to delete my social media accounts. But it feels so . . . final. I'm guess I'm still too attached to keeping my option open. Sigh.
Leah, I don't want to try to persuade you to write more, but there's some kind of a horrified wonder I feel right before I read your stuff. And I use those words because pretty much everything you write is a mirror to my soul as well as just my day-to-day experiences. Your essays resonate so hard with me. I feel like I'm walking a parallel path that is just an arm's length away from you. These same thoughts you express in this essay have been roiling around in my head over the last couple weeks. The difference is I still succumb to my information junkie self with little restraint.... But lots of thoughts about how I need to unhook. Spring gardening helps. ♥️
Spring gardening is a balm for much of modern life.☺️ And I think it's so cool and not too surprising that we seem to be walking such parallel paths; my sense of synchronicity in our observations and outlooks on life goes back decades, to when our kids were small. I'm grateful we can be journeying alongside one another despite our ridiculously rare visits.💕
I totally understand this sentiment, Leah. I took facebook off my Iphone. It was SO distracting. Now I am purposely leaving the phone somewhere else...and only checking it now and again throughout the day...(I have to for clients) but I do also gravitate to the computer...and still it isn't as often...just too much drama there. Way too much.
Yes, Gwen—way too much. Although it's kind of an inverse comparison, I keep thinking of the Grinch's line where he bemoans the "noise, noise, noise, NOISE!" At least the little kids of Whoville were celebrating the joy and fun of Christmas. In today's world the noise just sounds like the gnashing clamor of hell. Which makes my impulse to seek entertainment in it worth a little self-reflection. I think a lot of the harm being done is camouflaged by all the online distraction. The real world is where real solutions and healing will happen.
Enjoyed your essay and felt compelled to make a few comments.
The challenge is staying inormed without being overwhelmed...it was called situational awareness in military aviation. Lots of substack sources give overviews not specifics which that bill, I chose a couple.
Substack has become a vast army of investigative jounalists...there's synergy in numbers and as a result there shouldn't be a compulsion to comment on everything.
I agree, quality over quantity and for my own writing every 2 weeks is sufficient. I eschew social media as being to disjointed and superficial. Podcasts can be informative but are time sinks. I prefer thoughtful longform essays. I subscribe to a lot, open each so the writers metrics aren't negatively impacted but only read the ones that strike my fancy on that particular day.
Finally, I delete all emails over 2 weeks old, if I haven't read them by then, odds are I never will.
Dick Minnis removingthecataract.substack.com
Thanks, Dick. I appreciate your thinking, and especially this useful and thoughtful approach: "I subscribe to a lot, open each so the writers metrics aren't negatively impacted but only read the ones that strike my fancy on that particular day."
Please remain in the battle but do not fret about frequency. You role is the express yourself in the written word with clarity and conviction. For me, your assessments are usually right over the target 🎯. Thanks for your kind words regarding Celia's rebound 🪃! Sky Chief has this.😎
I enjoyed reading this. Good for you! Enjoy your life, and be grateful in it. The rest will fall into place. If we're being honest, breaking the addiction to the "black-mirrored devices" is, sadly, one of the most important challenges many of us face in these crazy times. Your words made me stop and ponder on how much those devices are actually what's contributing to the crazy.
Thank you, Sue. Enjoying life with gratitude—that's definitely the call I'm hearing. I do expect it will become easier in direct proportion to how much of my attention is grounded in the real world.
Yo, Leah.
Sunday blessings from my equatorial living hangout in northeast Brasil.
I am supportive of the quality of your expression, not the quality.
Yes, American politics is entertaining. Prime time comedy. It is not about We The People . It is all about the political elites we continue to reelect to represent us but they merely represent themselves and gain financial security. Morning questions to staff: 1. How are we doing with our donors? 2. When is my next TV interview?
My wife is addicted to her IPhone and spends a good bit of time on her laptop with her online education consultantation business. Her eyesight, neck and lower back challenge her wellness. At my insistence, she is being evaluated by Rheumatology and Opthalmology specialist.
For Leah, I look forward to your quality writing at whatever frequency you choose.
For Leah and my wife, Celia, I pray for physical, mental and spiritual wellness. Speak to Sky Chief. HE is listening.
Thank you for these prayers, FtB. It's amazing to me how easy it is to get sucked into the drama/comedy/tragedy even seeing it for what it is. The divisive energy is truly deranging society as it holds us individually in thrall. But I think there is no fully opting out, at least not for me, because there really is a battle to be waged and won, a Darkness trying to win the day through chaos and rage. So as I see it, each open heart is called to find their place in the fight, to help win the day for Light. I think that's where I am—trying to figure out my role and take it on with courage and faith. I'm grateful for your encouraging words and will pray your wife finds her way to optimal wellness.
I applaud your effort to resuscitate the thoughtfulness in your life. I hope that you will be a role model for others, most especially the young. I am 77 years old and remain a news junkie but I keep an emotional distance from what is happening. Being a Christian, I know that it is God who is in control and not Trump or the Dems. I find the postings on Substack to be so refreshing and spend more time reading them. Thanks for your honesty. I pray that you will find peace without monastic disengagement.
Thank you for your kind words and prayers, George. Being able to relax about writing against a deadline will help a lot, I suspect. It's the constant noisy clamor of the endless arguments that has been getting in the way. Being able to step back and create quiet space to hear myself think will be a huge relief.
What's up my friend. I am picking up what you're putting down. Came to the same conclusion myself. From another route. But we all wind up in the same place, huh. Had this thought yesterday: nothing NEEDS to get done. There's no NEED to write. (or clean or cook or *achieve* or... or... or...) and that thought took the pressure away of feeling OBLIGATED to do any of those things, and then the most curious thing: I went and did the things. I wrote, did a little laundry, emptied the dishwasher... The conflict dropped along with the insane pressure I put on myself to DO THINGS. You believe in God. God's plan? God's will? Have you tried doing NOTHING out of sheer curiosity? To see what moves you? What moves through you? That's what I've been up to. I was on a 97 week publishing streak and then—NOTHING. It's been liberating. (Do I protest too much? Maybe? Does it matter?) Also because—in my case anyway—I was adding to the world's conflict. FIGHTING this ideological plague and making a MESS. Fighting to be RIGHT. When all I really want is to be free. I'm thinking I'm developing this thing—this FAITH. I learned to trust it from you.
Ooooh, yes! We are at similar crossroads, trying to figure out how to participate in the conversation usefully when it's so defined by conflict and noise. And I get your "nothing" question. How we hold the experience of agency in our lives has SO MUCH to do with the ways we feel satisfaction, joy, and motivation. Experiencing our actions as choices rather than obligations is a core principle in the unschooling approach we took with our kids. There is something very liberating in examining our habits of mind and life, and recalibrating our expectations of our selves, getting clear on what we are doing and why. Love you friend. I've been holding you in my thoughts, prayers, and heart.
I always told moms (and myself!) who complained about parenting and then said, "What choice do I have?" (which is a victim stance) that they (we) could always drive our kids into the river. Every day we have a choice. We could hop on a greyhound to never return. The choice to stay and deal gives us agency and power. Just like you say. Love you too Leah. Hearts!
I hear you on the triaging, though I find that even as I pare down sources I keep finding new ones to take their place. Ugh. As far as prognosticators go, I only have one source I rely on (attorney Robert Barnes) and that's because his predictions are so grounded in understanding the political, legal, and historical landscape that he's more often proven right than wrong. He has a very particular POV—populist, champion of the the Little Guy against the institutions/corporations/elites—but since that is a framework I support I find him worth my time.
This resonates powerfully with me: "I have come to accept that knowing what's really true is elusive....Taking in information without struggling to form a conclusive view feels more peaceful." Indeed. I'm feeling rather exhausted by opinions these days, including my own.