First of all — GO 49ERs!!! SUPERBOWL!!! YEAH!!! *jumps up and down*
Okay, now that I got that out of my system…
This project is teaching me that there is more to being kind, loving, patient, etc.: you have to be present for these things to really make an impact. I can do a lot of kind acts, but if my heart isn’t into it, if I’m not 100% committed to being there in the moment, what’s the point?
This year, I’ve made a point of spending more time with friends and family, and trying not to care about my list of things to do so much. And it’s been working (you may have noticed I blog a little less often these days). But it’s more than just spending time with friends and family. If I’m on my phone or thinking about something else, I might as well be somewhere else entirely.
It’s been difficult. I actually think I’m addicted to my iPhone. I’ve been doing a little research into this, and a Stanford study has determined that iPhone addiction is actually a thing. I have a hard time when my phone has run out of batteries, or if, God-forbid, I leave it at home. The other night, I left my phone at home when Ryan and I went out to dinner. He went to the restroom and those few minutes nearly killed me. I felt so awkward sitting there with nothing to do. Apparently, I can’t just be.
But when I’m on my phone, I’m definitely not present with whatever is actually happening at that moment. I cannot be generous with my time if I cannot give all of myself.
I’ve tried to be OK without my phone more this month. I’ve left it charging more often. I try leaving it in my purse, especially during meals so that I can actually talk to people and enjoy their company. I’ve deleted a handful of apps and games that are just time-wasters and aren’t contributing to my life in any way, other than being a timesuck.
Dude. It’s really hard.
Being present takes some intentionality. I have to make a conscious choice to be okay not knowing what my friends on Instagram are eating. But it’s so handy when I need to look something up, or I have a few minutes to kill, or the 49ers are trying their best to NOT go to the Superbowl and Twitter is all abuzz about it. It feels like no big deal, but then I realize that I can’t not check it. Yikes.
This is definitely going to be an ongoing issue. Because I don’t want to that girl.
I so agree with you. I think about how much time I read blogs and how much time I read Gods word. I’m ashamed to compare. Thank you for the reminder.
Oh man. That’s a wake-up call for me, too.
It is WAY WAY harder than it should be to not fall into the “i’ll just check” mode when you’ve got a little extra time — or what you think is a little extra time. I know for a fact that I’ve practiced the piano less than I have in the past because that 30 minutes I used to be able to carve out is now frittered away a lot of days. AND THAT’S AWFUL — all those feeds will still be waiting for me when I’ve finished. Blergh.
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Want to stop our WWF games?
I don’t.
Sigh.
One game doesn’t hurt, right?
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Timely post! I feel like the phrase god gave me for this year is, “Be Present”. My main new year’s resolution is to Seek Jesus, and being present while studying the word and praying will help me do that better. I also want to be more available to my kids and husband, because I think they get the brunt of my not being fully present. I also think I’m addicted to the Internet. I have the iPad, not the iPhone, but it’s almost just as easy. Not having a smart phone was an intentional switch on my part to change that.
Yeah, right now it’s not too bad because I’m not married nor do I have kids. I’m getting a little better about saying no to my phone when I’m with Ryan, but it’s hard. Kids are gonna kill me (in more ways than one!). What a great resolution you have for this year!