I packed The Great Gatsby and a Kate Morton novel, hopeful for some down time to read. Snacks for the kids, gum for the plane, flip flops in my carry-on and away we flew—to Disney World.
Of course down time doesn’t exist in the Magic Kingdom. Those books stayed shut while hubby and I ushered two wide-eyed princesses into Cinderella’s castle and Tinkerbell’s nook. We ate lunch with Snow White, drooled over treats at Goofy’s candy shop, and balanced tired kiddos on our shoulders through Mickey’s Halloween parade.
What an amazing week. I soaked in every loud, exhausting, exhilarating minute of it.
How?
My e-mail was a thousand miles away.
Before we left home, I made a last-minute decision to leave my iPad in the living room. I don’t have a smart phone, and there was no room for my laptop in anybody’s backpack. So I spent a week in Orlando, irreversibly unplugged. And I loved it.
At first I expected a few heart palpitations, some nervous twitches or dry sweats, you know, from the sudden withdrawal. But can you believe it? As soon as we landed, I got so absorbed in vacation mode that I completely forgot about my e-mail. I shoved it to some remote corner of my brain, where deadlines and duties await, and I enjoyed living fully present with my family. We laughed. We held hands. We built memories to last a lifetime.
And none of it was distracted by the pull of the outside world.
Back home, I’m shamefully addicted to e-mail. I check messages continually, lured by the nagging pressure to communicate—with clients, church, friends, family. I’m a blogger, after all. Social media is part of the job. But is it possible to take it too far?
Like when I flip open my laptop first thing in the morning—before I get my hungry daughter her breakfast.
When naptime brings a quiet hour, and I reach for my iPad instead of my Bible.
When I refresh my inbox every three minutes, just in case that person replied to my reply.
When my girls say, “Mom, let’s play a game!” and I say, “Just a minute!” while I stick my nose in Gmail—again.
It took a week of Florida freedom to realize I’d been enslaved. And anything that enslaves us is not God’s design.
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery,” (Galatians 5:1).
When we lugged our suitcases back into the kitchen yesterday, I felt grateful for a successful trip and happy to be home. Yet part of me dreaded the return to normal life. I wanted to hold onto the liberty and family ties that Disney World allowed. Yes, routine and responsibilities are healthy, and e-mail can be, too, in moderation. But when did I let it start to suck my attention, my presence, my joy?
I walked into the living room where my iPad sat lonely on a sofa table, just as I left it. I reached for it, then froze my arm in mid-air. Enough is enough. From now on, e-mail will be confined to certain limited hours of the day only. Because I am so much more than a Gmail account. I’m a mom. A wife. An artist. A closet Rapunzel fan. And I want to live my blessings in the moment, not through my inbox.
Pulling my hand away from the iPad, I chuckled and grabbed a book instead. It’s time to finish The Great Gatsby. This mom is still on vacation.
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If this post encouraged you, please share it. You might also like When Sick Kids Cramp My Social Life, If You Give a Mom a Minute, and How to Get the Life You Always Wanted.
Linking up with: The Better Mom, Playdates With God, Momma Notes, Titus 2sdays, Wedded Wednesday, Grace at Home, Thriving Thursdays and Things I Can’t Say.
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Yikes! I thought, at first, you were writing about me! I’m right alongside you with your new “limited” email/social media goal. We can do it!
I’m so glad I’m not alone, Laura! Hold me accountable, sister! 🙂
I love how the Lord provides and keeps doing it. I love how he pulls us, mid-life, to show us how beautiful the sky is and how amazing missing teeth are! I’m so glad you had a great time sister! Always such a blessing and encouragement. 🙂
Blessings,
Nykiah
It’s always fun to hear from you, Nykiah! And yes, the Lord continues to show us new beauty all the time… I just need to open my eyes to discover it. Which means getting my nose out of the computer more often. 🙂 Blessings, my friend!
Great post! So very true. It is amazing how much time out of our day can be consumed with things that take away from the most important in life. Great reminder for us all. Visiting from Playdates With God.
Thanks so much for visiting, Joanne!
Oh, I’m glad you left that Ipad at home! I LOVE technology breaks- fuels me in ways that nothing else can. Of course, I’m not sure I could finish The Great Gatsby even with all that extra time I’d glean from NOT checking email. Think I choked that down in college. Three cheers for you as you read “smart mom” books:) It’s been too long since I’ve stopped by here. I’ve missed you, friend. Keep writing. And reading 🙂
The Great Gatsby is next up in my book club list, otherwise I wouldn’t have thought to check it out from the library, either, my friend! I confess I’m looking forward to the Kate Morton novel a whole lot more. 🙂 It’s always so good to hear from you!
Oh, I smiled and related to the frequent checking of social media. And I repented of wasting too much time. It is compelling, isn’t it? I, too, pray for moderation. Thanks for the entertaining reminder. Oh, and I hope you enjoyed The Great Gatsby!
It’s good to discover I’m not alone in the social media pull, Nancy. It’s a fine line, using the internet as a medium for ministry, and yet not allowing it to become bigger than it should be. And yes, I checked Gatsby off my list, and now my book club is planning an extra date to watch the movie!
Oh, do I resonate with you here, Becky! It was so hard for me to come back to reality after my “unplugged” vacation. I was just chatting (via the dreaded email, of course) with Linda at Creekside about this very issue. Blogging can become so consuming and there are many days I’d like to chuck it all for a different passion. But so far I don’t have the green light from the Lord to do so! I hope you find the balance you need in this blogging thing we do and I pray that I do too! Great post!
Oh, bless you, Beth! Honestly sometimes I feel the same way. And yet if God is calling me to write, which I believe he is, then I pray he will help me find that balance between using social media for good, and allowing it to get the best of me. We’re in it together!
I think maybe I need to go to Disney World. At least metaphorically speaking. I’m more than Gmail, too–at least I think I still am!
Good for you! And thanks for the inspiration!
So happy to hear you had a lovely trip, and what an important realization regarding technology. I too struggle with keeping it in its proper place. Your affirmations at the end are powerful. Yes, those are the identities to focus on. Blessings, Becky!
I’m learning to take breaks from being “connected” so that I can truly be connected to my kids in the moment. And it makes me realize how much I was missing IRL.
WHOA! Love this! I need to be much more mindful of my electronic usage when the kids are around…I know it and yet…it’s like an addiction. Thanks for the reality check and reminder!
Great post, Becky! For me it’s not email…it’s facebook, but the problem is the same, and something that I am working on!