I’m starting to realize an unsettling Something and I’m just gonna put it out there. We humans avoid self-reflection on purpose by staying so damn busy all the time.
We have full-time jobs, chores, obligations, and errands that must be done. We squeeze in time with family and friends when we can. We fit in exercise and passions, only if there’s time. We are glued to all of the shiny things the Internet has to offer—social media, blogs, news, recipes, the occasional celebrity gossip.
We have so much information available to us at any given moment. In fact, we carry a handheld device around with us to feed our hungry minds.
But, where are we in all of this? Treading water until we get so exhausted that we begin to sink.
Rather than drowning, I took matters into my own hands last year and tried a blogging and social media break, a clean mind sweep for two months. It’s my little way of going to a deserted island without leaving home.
This year, I only did a month. And, I came back.
But see, I meant to come back on October 1st. Then the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th went by quietly. At the end of my hiatus last month, I didn’t feel ready to come back. Not at all.
For inspiration I went back to my hiatus post to see if I completed my mission. I said…Most of all, I simply want to be.
It’s funny, because “being” isn’t simple at all. In fact, it’s effing hard.
WEEK ONE
I battled my ridiculous desire to check-in daily with my blog and social media accounts. Even with my email notifications turned off, muscle memory tricked me into pulling up Facebook on my laptop one night and Twitter on my phone another time during my lunch break. I quickly exited both times.
I realized the absent-minded habit I now possessed and yes, it was pretty freaky. I did my best to unlearn these habits and attempted to “simply be”.
That’s where things got a little dicey.
WEEK TWO
Every day I meditated peacefully in a forest, smiling as I reflected on the beauty within myself and the world around me. Not really.
When I wasn’t busy working and all the rest of it, I used my spare time to question what the hell I was doing with my life.
Mostly, I was coming down after self-publishing my third book, Nola Fran Evie. “Another book out, and still no signs of fame and fortune,” she thought sarcastically.
Also, broadcasting my personal life on blogging and social media started to make me shudder. Though I try to come from a place of good, is what I’m putting out into the world actually meaningful? Or, am I just another chick with first world problems talking about herself and taking selfies?
It was a rough week, needless to say. But then, Mr. H drove my sorry ass to the beach and this happened…
WEEK THREE
I stood in the sand and watched the sea, and guess what? I didn’t need to search or attempt, because I started that “simply be” thing I’ve been yapping about. I stopped getting down on myself and chose instead to see the good in me.
That moment I knew that I was doing alright with life.
WEEK FOUR
My hiatus was coming to an end. The big comeback blog post was looming. Shit.
I didn’t know what to write about—me, the girl who calls herself a writer. I wasn’t ready to deal with all of the waiting notifications and updates. I wanted to stay away, to keep my mystery, to viciously protect that small piece of me I found in September.
TODAY
At 8am I woke up to the sound of a trombone farting. Seriously.
Sunday morning. In the city. Trombone farts.
I wasn’t thrilled about it either, because I was having one of those lovely adult dreams you don’t want to wake up from—if you know what I mean. In the dream I was in the shower and my hunky husband was about to get in with me, then…trombone fart.
That brassy bastard.
My eyes flew open. The trombone farted proudly once again. What the hell?
Apparently, the Portland Marathon is today. Besides downtown, the route goes through our neighborhood as well. Two streets down there’s a block party with dance music and for some ungodly reason…trombone farts.
Surrendering to our fate, Mr H. and I put on some headphones and began our Sunday routine, drinking coffee in our chairs. I opened my laptop, then my WordPress page. I directed my mouse over to “Posts” and clicked on “Add New”.
My fingers started dancing across the keyboard, typing this nonsense. And, I was smiling big the whole time.
I came back.
Britt Skrabanek 
Well, ya know I live in a mountain in the middle of nowhere with no internet and I think about many of the things you mentioned. I think its really part of what makes us writers, introspection, and then sharing that insight.
Sounds like you had a good writerly time. Welcome back Britt.
LOL! We writers do like to mill around in our heads a bit, don’t we?
It was nice to have time to sort some things out. Great to be back!
Good to have you back 🙂
Welcome back, Britt! I’ve missed you xxxx
Thanks, lovely! Missed you lots and lots. xxoxoxo
First, welcome back! You’ve been missed!!!
Second, I love how you’re always trying to find meaning and understanding. I always find myself overthinking things and just trying to figure out the absurdity of modern Western life. And yet it’s so difficult to break away from.
Huge props to you for having done so twice in the past year or so!!!
You’re so beautiful on both the outside and inside.
Thanks, Stan! Missed you guys. Trying to find meaning and understanding keeps me out of trouble. ; )
Welcome back! It’s certainly difficult to disconnect, especially when our online presence is also tied to book marketing. But I think we need an occasional respite. I never really step away completely (unless I’m on a cruise), but I take some blog breaks in the summer, and I limit my social media on the weekends. I also don’t watch the news on weekends, so between those two things, I get some time to rejuvenate. Because Monday it starts all over again…
Thanks, love! Yes, it is especially difficult for us to disconnect from a marketing standpoint. I lost a few followers but the ones that count stick around. I’m all about the quality over quantity anyway.
I’m going to limit my social media time going forward. It’s a useful tool, but it’s more important for me to focus on writing and life.
Welcome back, Britt. We missed you, of course, but…
“Sometimes a gal’s gotta do what a gal’s gotta do.”
Hey, Tim! Missed you…naturally. The getaway was much needed and I’m glad to be back.
Britt welcome back I love taking some time away from the computer too and just unplugging from the world. But I am lucky I only have cows for neighbours so life is incredibly simple when I allow it to be. Give yourself a pat on the back for all your achievements and we are happy you are back. Loved the golden beach shot.
Unplugging is so important, especially now that we are constantly connected. You are totally lucky to have cow neighbors…I’m jealous. I’m trying to be better about patting myself on the back. It’s something we writers certainly don’t do enough.
Mr. H snuck that golden beach shot in when I was having a moment. Turned out awesome!
Lovely to have you back, Britt! I hope you can keep that feeling you had on the beach with you and keep twitter and Facebook away on some days while continuing to stay connected on others. It’s really a balancing act we’re trying to figure out, isn’t it?
“It’s really a balancing act we’re trying to figure out, isn’t it?”
Holy crap, Letizia. Your wisdom never ceases to amaze me. (And I needed to read this today. Was having a melancholy day, after what had been a pretty awesome weekend up until it struck.)
It’s strange how we go from having a great weekend to having a bad weekend. My meditation teacher says we need to learn to not let the events around us define our state of mind.
Easier said than done but as long as we keep trying than we’re heading in the right direction 🙂
It’s totally a balancing act! I’m going to limit my social media time to 3-4 days per week, mornings only, and see how that goes. I think it’s good to have some boundaries so I don’t get whisked away by the media distractions. So many more awesome things to spend time on, like reading and writing to name a couple.
Welcome Back 🙂 I am all for a Great Escape and some much needed “me” time. Happy Week!
Thanks, Renee! Yes, we are both champions of “me” time. So important! Happy Week to you too.
I wondered where youv’e been. I want to divorce Facebook. The silliness of it is, unless you have a medical necessity is just ‘silly’. I also am working on narrowing my email contacts. What happened to picking up the phone? That’s one of the many reasons I Iove the San Juan Islands-you can only get cell service in the larger areas. Periodic isolation is very therapeutic. Glad you are back. I missed your insight
Yeah, I needed to do my annual media getaway to reset. Facebook is pretty silly. I’m coming back with a limited schedule in place to keep my social media sanity. As an Indie Author, I need to have a bit of a presence there to promote my work, otherwise I’d be looking at a divorce as well.
I miss phone calls too. It’s amazing how that has become lost in our society. Nothing beats the sound of a person’s voice when you can’t physically be with them.
San Juan Islands…can’t wait to go there in the coming year. I may never come back! : )
Yeah! Britt is back! We are all– yes all– drawn to the water and the saltier the better. I look at the list of people who comment on your blog and you have the A list. Except for the rare exceptions– like me. Be happy the farts were mere noise, lol.
Yay! Hey, Dannie!!! Agreed. The ocean gets me every time.
Aw, I do have the privilege of talking to many A-listers around here. You are definitely a part of that crew.
Welcome back! and at the same time, WHY have you come back?!? you were so well out of here! you made it, for a whole month! meaning you had your weaning and you could go on without it all, like many of us should. Specially with a Mr H. to take you to such a beautiful spot by the ocean to find yourself again.
but, yeah, welcome back!
LOL! It wasn’t super easy to come back, but I’m glad to see you guys again and get back into a weekly writing schedule. Blogging is a great way of expressing myself, so it has therapeutic value. Social media has its issues, but I do enjoy staying in touch with people that way too.
I’m definitely reserving more time for myself and life in the coming year though. There’s just too much to enjoy!
Exactly. Welcome back, but don’t spend too much time here. 😀
Thanks, Jilanne! I’m going to divide up my free time a little differently from now on…for sure! : )