As you can see, the last time I wrote a post in this medium was five years ago. Not that I was a prolific blogger before that but at least I wrote somewhat detailed write-ups with photos of experiences I had, whether they were backpacks or races or stream of consciousness-type of stuff. I can’t quite nail why I had stopped but if I had to guess I would have to say that a big part of it is my ever dwindling attention span. My ability to sit through long, slow things has been hijacked by people who are experts in drawing my attention. I’ve come to the realization over the years, as I started to see my tolerance for reading anything I couldn’t immediately see the ending to dwindle, that it is my most precious resource. There are thousands of daily attention-sucking vampires out there and it’s a daily battle to fend them off. More often than not though, we succumb to our new overlords and it’s coming to a point where I’ve been afraid I might forget what it is like to slow down. Is my brain chemistry too far gone to get back what I once had?
Information, 99% of it a complete waste of time, is too prolific. It’s too rapid. It’s too trite. It’s too in-demand as we seek to fill in that dreaded bit of time where “nothing” happens. We need to constantly be doing something; hit after hit of that sweet nectar that is dopamine. We live in a world where there is only time to react, not respond thoughtfully, because the thing just next to it demands your attention too. I have been trying to combat that because I don’t like the direction it’s taking me. Give me depth. Give me meaning. Give me connection. Give me deep thought. Give me a deliberate life.
So I have been doing small things that I hope adds up to bigger things and slows the ever growing abyss that is trying to suck the life force out of me. This is a perfect segue into sharing that I will be reprising my long lost, but not forgotten, blog. If you really are interested in reading about my experiences, my travels, my occasional ruminations then you can access it in long format on this remedial blog site. Don’t get me wrong, I still journal (paper and pencil) about my grand experiences but I find myself only posting some photos with a line or two about it on Instagram. Photos are only but a small piece in the larger puzzle. So I’m leaving this fast current, destination who knows where, and slowing it down. So now you know where to find out about my comings and goings.
Some of the other sustainable things that I've found to help slow things down, for those who are curious, are:
1) Limiting unnecessary phone time and eliminating social media from it
2) Prioritizing reading books
3) Daily meditation and trying to stay present, not be in some far off and distant future or in someone else's world
4) Severely limit listening to music or podcasts in the car
5) Letter writing
6) Writing in a weekly journal
7) Taking an in-person class at a community college about something I'm interested in
8) Paying full attention to others when talking with them (get that phone out of there); show an interest; ask questions; prioritize the friendships that matter.
9) Eliminating the unnecessary; simplifying.
10) Making time for reflection; do not be afraid of the quiet time.
The truth that I find is that I simply have to make those things a priority. There is time if I make the time. We are so fortunate to have the ability to make deliberate decisions on where we choose to spend our incredibly precious time and attention. We have a choice.
In the subsequent forthcoming posts I look back and reflect on 2023 and what might be ahead for 2024.
