A Moment Without The Internet
6 years ago by
I’ve had a pretty epic start to the holidays… actually, take that back, I’ve had a life-changing year all around. I’ve experienced every high and low I think you can over the past 12 months… the hope and excitement that come with a new job; the intense pain of personal loss; the euphoria of a new marriage and most recently, the opportunity to reflect, without distraction, and to let it all go.
Last week I returned from our nearly month long honeymoon in the Maldives, where I made the conscious decision to not connect to wifi, no matter what, during our trip. My internet-free journey started in the car on the way to JFK and didn’t end until we had landed back in the city. My hope was that in disconnecting from the internet (and I mean all of it – Instagram, email, text messages, Kindle books via Amazon, everything), was that I’d focus on my new husband, my future, reflect on my past, and give myself a good, hard look in the mirror.
And guess what? It was wonderful. I’m sure the calming Maldivian waters, endless schools of fish I’d only seen on the Discovery channel, swinging loungers, and countless tropical cocktails helped… but there’s something about shutting down the internet that also stops time. Which forces you to really think, to analyze, to breathe in and out and remember that just doing that — just breathing — is OK. You’re alive. And the world is ticking along even though you’re not posting to Instagram, texting 4 people and scheduling a conference call at the same time.
It was liberating; and effective.
Not only was I excited to come back to my new life in the city after my internet hiatus; but I was inspired personally and professionally. I’m ready for a new year. And I’ve also learned, it’s OK to shut down, in fact, it’s necessary.
So while I may not be in a tropical paradise anymore, I will be actively disconnecting from the internet, from the extra chatter and incessant information. I’m going to focus more on me, and those around me, to hopefully be a little bit better in the long run.
I love this post, Caitlin! I spent a week without internet/cell phone coverage in a rainforest in Madagascar last spring. It was such a Zen experience, and I loved it. I just recently decided to cancel my wifi at home. Your post inspires me to spend more time in the real world instead of online.
Congratulations: on your new marriage, on your new life and also for your new perspective. Self-reflection is a sign of true growth.
May you not lose the lesson when you become immersed in “life” again.
Namaste,
Sabine
Déjà, toutes mes félicitations pour ton mariage Caitlin! <3
Ces sujets de déconnexion me parlent, mais alors tellement. Merci pour ton poste, ça fait tellement du bien, cette confirmation, que VRAIMENT, ça marche (comme si ça pouvait être autrement…)
MAIS, ce qui me bloque, c'est la gestion de "après" le retour à la connexion. Tu as dû avoir des milliers et des milliers de messages à gérer, des trucs en retard à régler…! Je serais vraiment intéressée de savoir comment tu as fait pour rentrer dans le mode speed quotidien en ne pas perdant tout le stock d'énergie que tu venais de gagner.
The only thing wrong about this post is that it is to short.
I’m halfway in a sh*** year and looking forward for that peace and happiness. (and for engagement too, but we talk already about that on anther posts around here).
Thank you for sharing!