Dear Friends,
I hope you’ve enjoyed your holidays and are happily
beginning the fresh new year stretched out
before you! An extended vacation I
chose to take from social media helped me discover a few things, or I should
say “rediscover.”
I found much more time to work on the creative endeavors
that usually get pushed to the end of the day. I painted, and sketched, and
played with words for my upcoming e-book. I read books and leafed through
magazines for uplifting articles. I tried out new recipes and stirred up some
old favorites. I tried out a new craft – wool felting – and finished a long
forgotten counted cross-stitch project. More room for meditation and
daydreaming – that oh-so-important method for stirring up the imagination – crept
into the latter hours when my energy shifts into low gear. I walked outdoors
until the deep freeze settled into my tiny township.
The days seemed longer in a good way and allowed lots of space
for good conversation. I listened and occasionally stepped up on my soapbox to
say what calls to me as important when some random comment sparks a thought. For
the most part I avoided all the bad news. Much of the “news” we read or watch can’t
truly be trusted anyway and at best is biased according to who writes or
reports it. On social media we are essentially preaching to a choir of our own
design so I’m not sure to what degree sharing on social media actually rallies
any new support or mobilizes a solution for our particular cherished cause.
Then, coincidentally, I was privileged to read the concerns
of an eight-year-old child – not on the internet but written in pencil with all
the heart and depth and misspelled words on lined paper of a living, breathing
child that I have the honor to know.
The child asked why people are “always on their technology
but no longer talk to each other.” “People are addicted to their cell phones,”
dared this brave young voice of wisdom. “Am I the only one who knows this?”
asked the youngster. Thankfully the child shared these words with a caring mom
who, by sharing the notebook with me and a few others, has awakened awareness
for a few.
My phone is archaic with no internet connection, yet I am guilty
of too much internet time. My goal is to become less involved online, the way it
used to be before technology invaded our lives with its promise of making life
simpler. I’ve not found technology to make life simpler but rather to have traded
the old headaches for new, more infuriating ones. And most significant, computer
time has taken time from those I love and the activities that feed my soul. Social
media only gives the illusion of connection and I’ve heard from reliable
sources that teens are actually afraid to talk to each other in person because
they don’t know how! Now that is tragic.
On that note, I am giving up “the scroll” on social media
which tends to turn my intention to look at “just a few posts” into an endless
maze where I lose precious minutes and my mind turns mushy. From now on look
for one post I will share from my RobinHeartStories page and maybe an occasional
extra per day.
I care what is going on for you and if you’re local, let’s
set aside some time to get together one to one with no distractions, where we
can be unedited and real, not a polished-up version of ourselves. Local or
otherwise, if you’d like to have a heart to heart on the phone please message or
email me with your number or ask for mine and we’ll chat like in the old days,
strumming our vocal chords with the latest in captured dreams and creative
imaginings. Or maybe we’ll be a compassionate ear for each other’s hurt or
recently suffered disappointment. Whatever it is, live, minute by minute
contact will bring us closer together and provide a future a child will be proud
to be part of.
Let’s make it a Happy New Year for everyone!
Many Blessings,
