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Unplugged
When was the last time you unplugged for more than a
few hours? I mean, really unplugged—no phone, no
email, no text messages, no social media, no schedule,
no kids.
Until recently, I would have answered“Never!”Then I
had the opportunity to attend a silent weekend retreat.
Did I mention it was a silent weekend? I’m a talker so
the idea of a weekend in silence was intimidating. My
family knew how to contact me in case of an
emergency, but otherwise, I was unreachable and off
the grid!
So how did it feel? Well, it was strangely not strange. I’m a talker (I think I mentioned
that already), but I also love solitude and, as a mom, I rarely get it—I can’t even take a
shower without risk of interruption. I was surprised by how easy it was to slip into my
own quiet company. It took a while for my mind to settle down, but then I could
actually hear my own thoughts! Even better, I was able to quiet my thoughts and let
go of a lot of my stress and anxiety.
Of course this weekend arrived at a time when I was incredibly busy. I knew there
would be a mountain of tasks awaiting me on my return, but oddly enough, the world
did not stop spinning because I wasn’t hyperresponsive to email and text for a few
days. In fact, things went on just fine without me.
I was a little scared to turn on my computer Monday morning and face my inbox, but I
had returned feeling renewed, more patient and with a clearer sense of purpose and
priority. So tackling my to-do list didn’t feel so daunting after all.
While we can’t always get away for an entire weekend, we can unplug in our own
ways. So as the holidays approach, ask yourself what are the things that distract you
the most? Facebook? Texts? Newsfeeds? Netflix? YouTube? Whatever it is, face the
holidays with a new sense of patience and grace by taking a break from them—for a
few hours, a day or longer.
Why? Because I said so!
Angela Hibbard
MOM Magazine Editor-in-Chief
Published by GO Creative, LLC
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Albany, OR 97322
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Angela Hibbard
Mid-Valley & Lane County
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Because I said so!