I often wish we could just go back to flip phones, leave them inside if there’s no real reason to carry it. Get on the family computer when we really need to. We were meant to be disconnected 🥹 (from technology). Thank you for sharing this lovely reminder!!
I wear Bluetooth hearing aids and listen to a book when I ride my bike. I can still readily hear sounds around me so safety is not an issue. I also have my old non-Bluetooth aids. One day I left on my bike with the old aids and thought, “I can’t listen to my story!”
But like you, sounds were clearer and the birds were singing. It gave me a pleasant ride. 🏍️
Wonderful piece, Jan, and I sure can relate. It's a little sparkle of magic. When I forget my cell phone and simply be present or forget my earbuds for along the walk!
This happened to me a few months ago and your post reminded me of that. I was on a hiking trip in the himalayas & being me, every pretty thing I saw, I photographed. As I sat on that soft, green rock, bathed in the warm sunlight of the setting sun, something dawned on me. I’d been so busy with my phone, caught up in all the buzzing notifications on instagram. But right then, as I lifted my eyes and really looked around me, I got it.
The tall trees, the chirping birds, the gentle rustle of leaves; they’d been there all along, waiting for me to notice. And now that I did, it felt like a veil had been lifted.
In the quiet of that forest, I felt something special. It was like a mix of calm and wonder washing over me. I realized that no app or notification could match the beauty of nature. I took a mental note to spend less time on my phone and more time enjoying the simple wonders of the world around me. & your post today reminded me of that. Thank you!
I’ve gotten more connected to my phone since the baby came on the scene . I’m not proud of it but it’s how I get so much reading done. But I know it’s something I must pay attention to as her gets older. I do find I’m a lot less irritated when I’m intentionally trying to disconnect
Wait. You've never been stung by a bee? That's remarkable. I had an apiary fantasy 15 years ago and applied for a job as a beekeeper's assistant. I asked how often the beekeeper was stung and he said, "most days, not at all. The worst day, 200 times, but the bees were angry." I had just experienced three stings (at once) after my dog had stirred a nest. The back of my hand looked like rising dough and stayed that way for a week. I had to put "The Hand" (as I referred to it) in the pocket of my jeans when in public because it was embarrassingly huge!
I'm well-versed in being disconnected. No cell reception here! Hurray! And, no beekeeping.
Oooooh I couldn't even walk in the same city as a beehive 😂😂 I'm terrified of the buzz. Nope, at 51 I've never been stung by a bee and it took til I was about 45 to get stung by a wasp. They're worse because they're assholes. They sting for pure sport lol.
I bring my phone on nature walks solely because it’s the camera I use to photograph the gorgeous sunsets, flowers, and animals I see on those walks. The phone is always in do not disturb mode and I keep the camera open so I don’t see anything else on the screen. I greet other walkers. I spend time watching the animals (especially the great blue herons) without taking photos or videos, too.
It does wonders for my mood to be outside admiring nature’s beauty!
I WANT MORE OF THESE TYPES OF POSTS!!! We are way too connected indeed Kristi and it's glorious to re-connect with ourselves and our surroundings. Good you enjoyed this walk!
I didn't answer a phone that was with me and regretted it. My daughter had fallen, smashed her face, broken her teeth, and was rushed to an emergency dentist - all while I sipped coffee with a client. Yikes!
Great experience. When I go for a walk, I never listen to music. This might be because of love for natural sounds or hunters instinct to scan everything around me. Probably both. And notifications stacking up after a long break is such a yummy thing!
Ha ha - a similar thing happened to me last week. I got a little panicked, realizing I'd have to walk on the beach without a podcast! The phone provides so many distractions and distractions enable us to avoid the uncomfortable feelings inside.
I don't believe feelings should be 'avoided'. I think they need to be acknowledged and felt. Distracting ourselves with the phone is a way we try to avoid our feelings.
Nowadays, going without a phone almost feels like an adventure. I sometimes purposely leave the house without it and feel like I'm walking on the edge. It's so liberating.
I often wish we could just go back to flip phones, leave them inside if there’s no real reason to carry it. Get on the family computer when we really need to. We were meant to be disconnected 🥹 (from technology). Thank you for sharing this lovely reminder!!
Agreed, Katie. And now it's almost like we CAN'T disconnect.
I wear Bluetooth hearing aids and listen to a book when I ride my bike. I can still readily hear sounds around me so safety is not an issue. I also have my old non-Bluetooth aids. One day I left on my bike with the old aids and thought, “I can’t listen to my story!”
But like you, sounds were clearer and the birds were singing. It gave me a pleasant ride. 🏍️
Wonderful piece, Jan, and I sure can relate. It's a little sparkle of magic. When I forget my cell phone and simply be present or forget my earbuds for along the walk!
This happened to me a few months ago and your post reminded me of that. I was on a hiking trip in the himalayas & being me, every pretty thing I saw, I photographed. As I sat on that soft, green rock, bathed in the warm sunlight of the setting sun, something dawned on me. I’d been so busy with my phone, caught up in all the buzzing notifications on instagram. But right then, as I lifted my eyes and really looked around me, I got it.
The tall trees, the chirping birds, the gentle rustle of leaves; they’d been there all along, waiting for me to notice. And now that I did, it felt like a veil had been lifted.
In the quiet of that forest, I felt something special. It was like a mix of calm and wonder washing over me. I realized that no app or notification could match the beauty of nature. I took a mental note to spend less time on my phone and more time enjoying the simple wonders of the world around me. & your post today reminded me of that. Thank you!
Monika, this is beautiful! Thank you for sharing ❤️❤️
I’ve gotten more connected to my phone since the baby came on the scene . I’m not proud of it but it’s how I get so much reading done. But I know it’s something I must pay attention to as her gets older. I do find I’m a lot less irritated when I’m intentionally trying to disconnect
.
Yeah that's the thing, Marc. Phones are the new books so there's almost no avoiding it if we like to read!
Wait. You've never been stung by a bee? That's remarkable. I had an apiary fantasy 15 years ago and applied for a job as a beekeeper's assistant. I asked how often the beekeeper was stung and he said, "most days, not at all. The worst day, 200 times, but the bees were angry." I had just experienced three stings (at once) after my dog had stirred a nest. The back of my hand looked like rising dough and stayed that way for a week. I had to put "The Hand" (as I referred to it) in the pocket of my jeans when in public because it was embarrassingly huge!
I'm well-versed in being disconnected. No cell reception here! Hurray! And, no beekeeping.
Oooooh I couldn't even walk in the same city as a beehive 😂😂 I'm terrified of the buzz. Nope, at 51 I've never been stung by a bee and it took til I was about 45 to get stung by a wasp. They're worse because they're assholes. They sting for pure sport lol.
Love the sentiment in this post. Thanks for sharing. I've subscribed 😊
Thanks Tania!
I bring my phone on nature walks solely because it’s the camera I use to photograph the gorgeous sunsets, flowers, and animals I see on those walks. The phone is always in do not disturb mode and I keep the camera open so I don’t see anything else on the screen. I greet other walkers. I spend time watching the animals (especially the great blue herons) without taking photos or videos, too.
It does wonders for my mood to be outside admiring nature’s beauty!
Same here Wendi! I love to have my phone for photos and videos, mostly of my ridiculous dog 😁
I WANT MORE OF THESE TYPES OF POSTS!!! We are way too connected indeed Kristi and it's glorious to re-connect with ourselves and our surroundings. Good you enjoyed this walk!
Thank you Marie! You're too kind!
Great post! Intriguing title with a surprise plot twist!
😁 Thanks Cathy! We have to reel the readers in somehow, right?
Good point!! Well-executed!
I didn't answer a phone that was with me and regretted it. My daughter had fallen, smashed her face, broken her teeth, and was rushed to an emergency dentist - all while I sipped coffee with a client. Yikes!
Ooooh man Cindy!! I'm so sorry!
I carry my phone into meetings now. We have the "3 call" system. If they call 3 times in a row, I better step out and answer!
Love all this. When I find myself checking email on a walk, I know I’ve gone too far…
I can't anyway, can't see my phone without my glasses lol.
That’s slowly happening to me. Maybe I should be glad (she says, squinting ;-)))
Such a fun picnic isn't it? 😁
Great experience. When I go for a walk, I never listen to music. This might be because of love for natural sounds or hunters instinct to scan everything around me. Probably both. And notifications stacking up after a long break is such a yummy thing!
Ha ha - a similar thing happened to me last week. I got a little panicked, realizing I'd have to walk on the beach without a podcast! The phone provides so many distractions and distractions enable us to avoid the uncomfortable feelings inside.
That is true but also nature can help us avoid those feelings too!
I don't believe feelings should be 'avoided'. I think they need to be acknowledged and felt. Distracting ourselves with the phone is a way we try to avoid our feelings.
Nowadays, going without a phone almost feels like an adventure. I sometimes purposely leave the house without it and feel like I'm walking on the edge. It's so liberating.
Lol this is so accurate Craig 😂 Long live life on the edge!!
"We can’t be awesome ALL the time! We can’t be constantly connected.
But we can still show up."
I enjoyed this read! Thank you for writing ✨
You're very welcome Athira!