Give yourself some "internetless" time each day

 I think it's important to take some time every day to do something for yourself or someone else that has nothing to do with social media, a computer and a phone.  Giving yourself a break from the constant streaming is healthy for the spirit.  At least in my opinion.  Get outside.  Read a book or a magazine.  Play a game, one that doesn't require a login LOL. Write a letter.  Go visit someone and have a real conversation.  Just do something that's different for a change.  Listen to music. The possibilities are endless.

I started thinking about this earlier this week because of something a friend said to me.  We had a huge storm roll through on Monday.  Many places in Greensboro were without power.  Luckily, my house was not among them.  But a friend I work with said she was without power for about 6 hours.  She and I are roughly the same age, so we remember what life before the internet was like.  Her daughter, however, does not know about that. My friend told me her daughter had three major meltdowns during the power outage because cell service was down and she didn't know what to do with herself.  While I did chuckle when I was told this, I also felt very sad for her.

It's not her fault.  It's a generational thing. They never had to live without it but I do think it's important that they find things to do when this happens.  Same goes for me and everyone, really.  When the power or the internet goes out, what do you do?  Some of my friends laugh at me because of my huge record collection and all of the DVDs and VHS (yes, you read that right) tapes I have.  But when the internet is down, I know I can entertain myself.  

But this incident just reminded me that I need to take some time each day and get away from having the world at my fingertips.  I think it's important. 

Mom's glass trinket box

 I love this little box.  It was always sitting out on a table or a shelf in our home for as long as I can remember.  Mom used to keep it filled with pieces of natural glass that we would find on our beach trips.  That was always a fun way to pass the time at the shore.  That and sharks' teeth.  The glass looked so beautiful inside the box and gave the box a wonderfully colorful appearance. 

I don't know where Mom got this little box from.  It may have been a wedding present or something she got from Aunt Mary Lee.  Or it could have simply been something she picked up along the way because she liked it.  Whatever the reason, I'm glad she had it because I really think it's pretty.  There is a chip in the lid now. I'm not sure when that occurred but it is not going to keep me from using it.  Most of us are cracked or chipped in one or another so those qualities in my possessions do not bother me either LOL

Now it sits on a chest in my den.  It's empty at the moment. I would love to go to the beach and search for glass again to fill the box back up.  Maybe one day!

Psalms 4:2

 

I read this Psalm the other day and it definitely struck a chord with me.  It's something I want to ask many people these days. 

Today's Moment of Mindfulness

 

Life isn't happening to you; Life is responding to you. 

Tabloids

 

When I was a kid starting around 4th grade, I really began to find my voice through creative writing.  I loved writing stories and serials.  I carried that love of creative writing through high school.  The writing really tapered off after that.  I miss it and hope to pick it up once again. Anyhow, because I loved writing, I used to read tabloids all of the time.  Mom would buy me copies of The National Enquirer, The Sun, The Globe among others.  I just ate them up. 

Even as a pre-teen, I knew it was fake. I knew that the stories were not real.  They were so fantastical and absolutely absurd most of them.  But they were so delicious to read.  And I always thought to myself, who would ever believe this kind of thing?  I just didn't see how anyone could believe stories of Elvis still being alive, or of the adventures of Bat Boy, or all of the drama that went on in the lives of every celebrity in Hollywood.  I thought only an idiot would believe such rubbish, entertaining though it may be.

With the advent of social media, I get it now.  People will believe anything.  No research, no fact checking.  If it comes from a specific source, it is believed no matter how out there it is.  And this in on both sides of the aisle. It's just ridiculous to me but that is where we are right now.  As a kid, I enjoyed reading the National Enquirer.  As an adult, I do not enjoy living in it. 

A visit with Dad and June

 Saturday, I spent the day with Dan and June.  I always try to take some food with me for them to have, and I'd spent Thursday and Friday nights after work cooking.  They are always very appreciative of that, and they seem to enjoy the food.  And since they're almost 2 hours away, it makes me feel like I am contributing to their well-being. And it's an excuse to cook, which you all know I love. I packed up the cooler early Saturday morning and hit the road. 

They live in Angier, NC in Harnett County.  It's a very nice drive because it does not involve the interstate which I am thankful for.  I'm sure I could take the interstate to get there but luckily, I have always taken highways and back roads. Traffic was not bad at all and the temperature was still cool.  That is a plus because I don't have A/C in my car anymore.  Fun times!  

The thing I really love about visiting them besides the obvious of spending time with them, is that the visits are so easy.  Getting together with Fornes family is always a relaxed atmosphere.  We just sit around and talk.  And when we don't have anything to say, we just sit around and it's enough.  Dad and I went to a Chinese buffet for lunch then came home and took naps. It's how we roll.  We spent time updating each other about people in our lives.  Stories are always told.  Often, there are stories that have been told before but I'd rather hear them than not. June will pull out pictures she thinks I would like to see and recipes she knows I'll want to look at. And it's just a nice time.  It was good to catch up with them, and I look forward to another visit soon.  That was my fun for the week!

Youth Handbells

 This past Sunday, the youth handbell choir rang during the service at church.  They did a wonderful job, and it made me think how much I miss having that in my life.  This church has several adult choirs, and I am hoping to join one of them in the fall.  Or at least be a substitute!  I will have to do some research into that. But watching the youth choir ring brought back a lot of good memories for me.

As you know, ringing handbells was a part of my life for almost all of my time at FBC Monroe.  For me, dealing with my own issues even at a young age, the choir represented several things for me.  I was good.  I was a very good ringer and that boosted my confidence. It also made me feel like I was giving back to my church in a way and that was important to me.  And of course, I loved it and it's important to do things that you love. 

Ringing in the youth choir gave me the chance to socialize with and get to know people I would not have otherwise.  There's a huge gap between middle school and high school as far as hanging out goes but the members of the handbell choir were very welcoming.  Elizabeth Evans, Suzanne and Brent Jewell, Kennon Blanton, Donna Pittman, Beverly Baker.  They were all in high school when I joined the choir as a 6th grader.  And they were great.  I feel like we got to know each other in a way that I would not have had I not been in the choir.  It was a wonderful sense of community.  The first year I rang in the youth choir, we were under the leadership of Jim Reich so not only were we friendly, but we were also very disciplined and rang up to Jim's standards, which were very high. 

I keep up with most of the people in the choir even today through social media and my letter writing. It was a good time in my life.  I know I cannot go back but I can look towards the future and the hopes of ringing in a choir once again.