intentions

I feel such a strong pull toward rediscovering computer-free life. Do you remember how that feels? I don’t.

Lately I have this urge, and as usual with most of my “urges”, I feel inclined to take it to the extreme and tell you all right now that I won’t be turning this thing on again for a month. But then, I hate closed doors. What’s the use of a closed door? No, if there’s anything I’ve learned about myself, it’s that I like my options open. And my needs change daily. Hourly.

Despite that, I still do feel a desire to practice “intentionally” turning the computer off for a set period of time. I’ve put some thought into it:

I’ve got email covered – I’ll relearn all my friends’ phone numbers and leave an email notification reminding them of mine. Great.
Banking? It could be a challenge, but there was a time when folks actually visited a real live person at a bank. I don’t know, my kids hate the bank, so I’ll have to think on that one.
What else… oh, dumping photos off my camera. That, too, could have a couple of set days per week. No surfing though. No Bloglines. No Flickr. Can I do it?
Then there are my long-distance friends whom I connect with online because it’s free. And practical. Hmmm. Wait a minute, will I remember what to do when I need a recipe for something that isn’t in my any of my cookbooks? Okay. This is looking harder than I thought.

Do you think you could do this? Would you want to? Do you ever feel the urge? Somewhere, some way, and at some point, just “turning this thing off for a while” got a lot more complicated, didn’t it?
So maybe instead of “turning this thing off”, I’m deciding to “turn my attention on” to some other things more intensely for the next while.

There’s a baby girl just on the cusp of learning to walk.
I’ve got a lot of jam to make.
A pile of sewing calling to me.
And much beach bumming to do.
I want to participate in our local tree fruit gleaning program this year.
I’ve got a massive list of preserving to accomplish.
I’m looking forward to spending my first tiny portion of each day reflecting on words from this book.
I’ve got an entire basement that is crying out to be purged.
Lasagna beds to plan and build for next year.
I’d like to start a lobby to change our town’s LAME chicken laws.
I’ve got some serious bike shopping to do, too, if we’re ever going to start living Copenhagen style.

A little ambitious? Perhaps. But I think it’s a practice that I’d like to restart in my life. Getting stuff done, instead of reading about it. Connecting more deeply with those in my life than those in my computer. Being inspired by what’s around me, books, art, people, the sunset, the forest, the ladybugs on my tomato plants, instead of being overwhelmed by all the (abundant, dreamy and amazing) inspiration I find daily online. It’s time to find balance between these two wonderful worlds again.

I guess I’ll strive to find a way to enjoy the functionality of this tool we call the Internet while at the same time maintaining my focus mostly elsewhere. I gave up commenting and replying to comments quite some time ago, but now I am thinking I need to let go of being able to even read all the blogs I’m addicted to, that I have derived so much joy and inspiration from over the months and years. Oh, but I am so grateful for that!

I’ll definitely pop in when I feel the genuine need to. I am not going to purposely deprive myself of the option to write here, or to read what’s going on with you. But I’m going to really look at my intentions, evaluate my needs, and ponder my purposes before I decide to sit down with my cup of tea and allow myself to indulge in sharing or in getting “lost” (for a few moments, or many) in Internet land.

Authenticity feels great – I’ll see you (and you’ll be seeing me) when I am truly able.
Most of all – Enjoy this glorious month of July!