Join me in the act of pulling away from my screens and jumping back into afk real life.

Honestly, I’ve got to say that the world inside of screens is a lot less stressful than life in the real world. So lately I’ve been looking at my phone, my TV, or at my computer more than ever. But rather than discovering true peace, I’ve become less and less satisfied with my life. In fact, I’ve found so much dissatisfaction that I began dopa-mining. This is where we find fun through more food, more self-fulfillment, and lots of “me time.” I bet you’ll never suspect that I’m about to say that the end result was way less actual joy.

I had a good reason at first. At least, it felt like a good one. I was going through some mood swings, hot flashes, and a lot of other unpleasant things that just made me feel a lot less happy than usual. In an effort to shield everyone around me from this situation, I thought I’d just put myself in isolation.

I’d tell myself that “I’m just so tired of butting heads with everything around me.” I just wanted to pull away. And as it turns out, if you’re not there, you don’t have to face it. But if you don’t connect with people because you don’t want to be there in the hard times, you won’t be welcome there in the happy times, either. In short, relationships suffer.

Right now, for example, I’m in a car full of people whom I love, and we’re listening to good music. The A/C is cold. The sky is lovely, clear pale blue with just a hint of soft, fluffy clouds on the edges of a circle of not-too-bright sunlight. In short, it’s a perfect day. But I’m finding relief in my phone from post surgical pain. My own little clouded mind is keeping me in a haze that doesn’t allow me to see my blessings. In fact, I didn’t notice any of them until I actively looked for them.

At the moment, I’m on my way to church, where more good music, good preaching, and smiling friends will help me to pull away from my screen for a few fulfilling hours. I’ll connect, form deep friendships, and really feel like myself again. But then, after we leave, I’ll be tempted back into my screens.

How am I going to pull myself away from the screen next time I get home? I think the key is what I’ve already done at the beginning of this blog. I will look away from the screen, notice the world around me, look at my children and my family, and continue counting my blessings in vivid detail, speaking them to myself in the most picturesque way possible. And then I’ll make the conscious choice to interact with that lovely world around me.

I’m going to begin today. Then, when I fail at this process, I’l begin again next time I notice that I’ve strayed from my purpose. And every time I miss the mark, I’ll commit to continuing this process until it works or until I die trying. Will you join me? Life is worth really living, and it’s time to start.