September 2004



Buzz Buzz Buzz…
If you are like most people, your day is filled from morning till night, action, action from place to place. We do all we can to be more advanced and efficient — computers, TV, cell phones, pagers, printers, copies, cordless phones. There is rarely a moment when we are not exposed to technology and all that comes with it.

Perhaps my most favorite part of my recent camping vacation was the absence of sound, the very stillness present in the outdoors mingled with little more than aspen leaves flipping in the breeze.

Journal excerpt -Maroon Bells, Aspen CO, 8/11/04
“In an urban world, I am overwhelmed by the sounds, smells and general stimuli that constantly bombard me. At times I numb to it…tuning out the world, either through busy-ness, through food or just not paying attention. My muscles sit tense atop my shoulders like little ropey soldiers, protecting their tense fortress. My eyeballs ache from computer stare and at times I wear earplugs to bed just to block it all out, kept company only with my heart beat rhythm.

But here, out in the wilderness, I savor the absence of human sounds — instead the chirp of a bird, rustle of the Aspen leaves upon the wind and the rush of water somewhere in the distance as all the droplets of mountain runoff gather in a powerful stream. The simplicity of color- the greens, browns, greys speckled with wildflowers of all imaginable colors. Daisies which rest with petals drooping, sleeping through the night, now spread arms wide into the sunlight as the sun moves overhead. I too spread arms wide to welcome the sun on my skin, arms and lids of closed eyes. Coming back to myself and into myself, the smooth rhythm of yoga moves me through Sun Salutations- age old tradition uniting spirit with self and space.

Time falls away, merely shadows upon the rocky mountain tops, spreading light across the field, and shadows move upright. The stillness sits beside me, under me, around me- contact with a truth pure as the light. Present moment is all I notice. Skin muscles, bones, a growl in my belly—I feel fully alive, yet peaceful, still, yet vibrant with all the life that surrounds me. Ahhh freedom.”

On Being Present
There is something to be said for moving slowly, not rushing, and for letting go of technology. Perhaps it is impossible for you to step away from it completely for any length of time, but do you really have to be on the phone when you drive? Does having the TV on as background noise really put you at ease? Are you sure? Regardless of whether you feel you are “vegging out”, your mind is still being stimulated. It receives and sends signals, messages, sounds, smells. Your attention is split amongst a plethora of things.

What would it be like if you stopped being a master multi-tasker for an hour and just focused on one thing at a time? What if when you spoke to co-workers, friends or family you offered your undivided attention, really hearing what they had to say? How might your drive home be different if you weren’t eating, making notes, calling voicemail, etc. and instead focusing on being alert and relaxed, paying complete attention to driving?

Break for Nature
Being in Colorado I have set myself up for success if I so choose. I can go to any of the 200 local parks, head 10 minutes down the road to Green Mountain, 15 to Golden, 30 for Castlewood Canyon, or 45 to Boulder, if I want a dose of nature. The key element here is -choose. I too forget. I too get caught up in the fantastic sales at local department stores, eating on the run, and the Bermuda Triangle of email. It is up to me to choose how I spend my time, or shall I say, fill my time.

Recently I released a project that took up to 20 hours a week and became overwhelming on top of everything else I was doing. Last week I finally could begin relaxing into myself again. Oddly I do find myself having to reclaim my attention from wanting to go off and mindlessly waste time shopping for a new cell phone plan, rent movies, talk on the phone. Thankfully I see this happening and I choose to go for a walk, come back and sit down, write. Focus, breathe, one thing at a time.

I do encourage you to consider and experiment with what it would mean to live unplugged for 10 minutes, an hour, a day. Would it mean that you take one day a month and leave off the TV, Stereo, computer, and instead cozy up with a book or a buddy? I raise the challenge to you to stay off your cell phone in the car and see if you feel more relaxed, less rushed or frazzled. (After all, operating a car is serious business — lives are in the mix!) Enjoy listening to others, practice listening to your body and take a break from doing everything all at once with endless stimuli. Unplug, if only for a moment. And relish in the freedom.

close window