We went to the hot springs for a few days. Hubby suggested I needed to relax. I told him I wasn’t sure if I would be able to. I asked my team to help me unwind, unplug, rejuvenate and have time to write to finish my third book.
When we got to the hot springs and settled in, we found their WiFi was down. In all the years we’ve visited there, we’ve never experienced being WiFi-free.
In the early afternoon, we walked down to the desk and asked about the internet connection. They hadn’t realized it was down. Unfortunately, they informed us, the IT guy was gone for the day. I did have 5G on my phone, but don’t use that for surfing or for social media.
So Hubby soaked a lot and read in between soaks. I wrote a lot.
Late the second day, we were informed the connection had been reestablished, but the WiFi wouldn’t reach our room.
Showing Me How It’s Done
The resort cat spent quite a few hours sleeping next to me on the sofa. Every once in a while, she’d wake up, reach out to me and place either her paw or her head on my leg and go back to sleep. Perhaps she was showing me her way of relaxing.
I completed my book (A Prophecy Revealed – expected to be out January or February 2024), and when we got back home, I sent the manuscript out for a final critique.
Did my Team make sure I had no distractions by disabling the internet connection or was it coincidental? I don’t believe in coincidences.
Back Home
When we got back home and I finally checked in on social media, I was shocked by how hard I was struck by what I had previously been desensitized to.
Censorship
Our right to speak freely has been muzzled. I know, they say, “It’s for our own good.” Bull hockey.
The First Amendment “…protects freedom of speech, the press, assembly…” and it has been stifled. We have become a censored society.
Bad Vibes
I also noticed an uneasy vibe when I signed in to social media; the energy felt sickly.
The forced ads, “Suggested for You” pages, and if I was lucky, I’d get to catch a glimpse or two of something my friends posted.
Tech Detox
I didn’t realize how much I needed a tech detox.
Don’t get me wrong, aside from the ads being shoved down our throats and the muzzling, social media has enabled us to make global connections.
But I noticed that people are having to use substitute lingo because of the muzzling; it’s either substitute your words or get reprimanded and have your account frozen for communicating outside of their “guidelines”. Shoot, I was reprimanded a while back because my post contained “false information”. It was a poem; one written from a survivor of old. Seriously.
My point being, maybe we should all take occasional tech detoxes. Tech can be great; it can also be a detriment.
Use Wisely.
Oh, and I did relax. Kitty taught me well.
By Jan Toomer
Follow Us!