Tune Out & Drop In

“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.”--Anne Lamott
Cell phones. Tablets. Laptops. Desktops. Fitbits. Echo. Alexa. Siri. The astounding array of electronics by which we stay synced to our vast network of connections and entertainment and knowledge and consumables grows daily, and daily grows more... personal. It’s almost as if humans have reached into the Ethernet, and the Ethernet has reached back, offering us the immediate gratification we seek in a smooth and unflappable (female) voice.

And it’s fun. And informative. And helpful. The only thing it isn’t is real. Real happens when out feet touch the ground, and our hand touches our dog’s wet nose. Real happens when our arms embrace a friend, and when our lips kiss a loved one. Real happens when we go down a road because it has a cool looking tree despite the repeated announcement of “Recalculating.” Real is when we sit down at a table for a home-cooked meal instead of scarfing down microwaved hot pockets over the kitchen sink.

The conveniences of life are wonderful, as long as we remember that they are conveniences, and not life itself.

This week, we invite you to revel in the Real and unplug. We may just find out one of modern life's best paradoxes: the more we disconnect, the more we connect. Stay tuned for tips & inspiration--and don't forget to share your own stories, ideas, and tips with us by tagging us at #chronicwellness and #cwquakertown.