I used to be all about things. When I was a kid our family didn’t have much money, but I still had my eye on that cool thing in the Sears Christmas Wish book, or the toys at the Bazaar on the island. Later when we had money and when I went out on my own I could get more “things,” and I did. I started to measure my success in life by my things. I think our capitalist society programs all of us that way don’t you?
Recently though, in the last four or five years I have noticed a change. I have started pulling away from things. I first noticed it in my approach to social media on the internet, when I deleted all my accounts. I did this because I realized it was doing things to me that I did not like. Like endless hours ‘doom scrolling’, and going down rabbit holes that are best left alone. When I did this, my smart phone turned into ‘just a phone’. In fact I have started not taking it with my when I go on errands or whatever because why? Yesterday I had the thought that I could see the day coming when I just do away with it entirely. If you want to talk to me, call The Chef. If you don’t know how to reach her then we’re probably not going to talk.
It’s not just social media though. It’s everything that goes with our consumer based society. Having the latest, iPhone, or clothes, or shoes, or car, or trips to exotic places. I find I don’t need to measure myself by that standard. I’m okay without them. In fact I’m better without them.
Here’s the thing. In doing all this I have noticed that I’m more present in the moment, I am reading more (you know, books? Remember those?), and I am happier. These are all good things. In fact I haven’t found much downside. For me, your experience may be different, I have the feeling like I have closed the lid on pandora’s box
Ridgewalker's Notebook 