A few months, a friend told me about a project she is part
of that really piqued my interest. The group was making lists of things they
wanted to do in their life, not exactly like a “Bucket List” but similar to
that. Instead of only wild things they wanted to accomplish, like skydiving or
bungee jumping, each made a list of somewhat more simple things they wanted to
do. Each shared their list and helped one another accomplish their goals if
possible.
I went to their website to read what it was all about and
started my own list. One of the things on my list was to paint a picture with
my dad, which I accomplished on my visit to see my parents in Washington in
early February. Another item on my list was to spend a day without any
technology. Yesterday was my day and what a day it was!
Brian was at work all morning, played golf in the afternoon,
and then headed to a hotel that evening (he had a sprint triathlon near the
hotel early the next day). Ashley was at school all day, had an activity in the
afternoon, and planned to spend the night at a friend’s house. Each had made their
plans before I thought about doing our technology-free day. So, it was just me
and Brielle with no disruptions to Brian and Ashley’s routine.
We started at seven in the morning. However, before we
started, I brewed my coffee (no I wasn’t giving up all technology AND my
coffee!) and checked e-mails and the social networking site I often go on.
Then, our adventure began!
What we went without:
- All
high tech items such as the computer, MP3 players, cell phones, and my notebook
- Appliances
such as the stove, oven, microwave, and all portable appliances (no, I didn’t
turn off the freezer, refrigerator or water heater!)
- Anything
electric such as lights (I had to put painters tape over switched just to
remind me) and AC (that got tough around 4pm when the temperature inside the
house reached 80 degrees)
- Anything
that used batteries such as land line telephones and even our electric
toothbrushes
Our “cheats”:
- My
camera and camcorder (I just HAD to document the day!)
- A
flashlight at night when we camped in the backyard (for safety!)
What we did all day:
- I
read the paper with my coffee instead of watching news show in TV and browsing
the Internet.
- Our
usual homeschooling routine most of the morning.
- Sat
on the back deck. Brielle wrote in her notebook, colored and practiced math facts with her flash cards while I stamped/sealed
Ashley’s graduation announcements (she had done everything else in the weeks
before), wrote in my journal (I was months behind and had PLENTY to write), and
wrote letters/card to five friends (another item on my “list” is to write a
letter to one friend each week and I was behind on that).
- After
lunch, we played together. We put together puzzles, played “Go Fish” and other
card games, and played dice games (adding, subtracting, and comparing the
numbers of each roll).
- I
cleaned the house, which is my usual Friday routine (although I vacuumed the
day before).
- We
read a few chapters together in a new book in her favorite puppy series.
- Late
in the afternoon, we put up the two-man tent my sister-in-law gave the girls
over 10 years ago. (Thanks, Tracy!) We planned to camp out in the backyard that
night but watched the darkening sky carefully.
- I
read a new book from my favorite author (Jennifer Chiaverini
- She writes generational stories about quilting often set in historical times - I read the first few chapters of her 18th book!)
and sipped wine (couldn’t do without that!) while Brielle looked through her
teen magazines.
- After
dinner, we got ready for our campout and headed out back to the tent since
there had only been a few sprinkles and the sky was clearing up.
- We
slept outside in the tent! Our dog, Cooper, loved it as much as Brielle did! (I
was terribly uncomfortable all night even though we had lined the tent floor
with pillows as our mattress)
- We
woke up around 6am to the sounds of birds, goats (a nearby neighbor has about
10), and barking dogs.
- We
were in the house and anxious to go back to our technology items at 7am.
When we got back to technology, I had missed two calls on the landline,
had 11 new emails, one message and 13 notifications on a social networking
site, no texts, and no missed calls on my cell phone. Life went on without us
being plugged into it!
What we learned about a day without any technology:
- It
takes a little planning. The day before, I printed out her math worksheets, vacuumed,
made sure we had plenty of things to keep us busy, and prepared my friends and
family.
- We
missed technology more and less than I thought. I didn’t realize how much we
use technology. I go on the computer to check the calendar and look up simple
things, even to check the spelling of words. I text little notes to family and
friends while I’m thinking of them and I just had to make a list of things to
contact people about later. I had to do math by hand (eek!) instead of using a
calculator.
- We
use technology automatically. I had to put painters tape over the light
switches or I would have flicked them on without a thought. Some tasks were
difficult without lights such as accessing our homeschooling supplies in the windowless
laundry room and cleaning the house especially dark hallways and bathrooms. In
addition, I realized lights just add a sense of warmth and not feeling alone. I
hadn’t expected those feelings.
- Our
senses were heightened. The house was incredibly quiet without the white noise
of the fan on the computer, the sounds of the washing machine, dryer, or
dishwasher, or just the constant “clatter” of the TV or radio being on as
background noise. Instead, we heard birds, bugs, cars, lawn mowers, wind in the
trees, kids laughing as they got off the school bus, and ice dropping in the
freezer. We even smelled the blooming trees and bushes in our yard and a
neighbor doing laundry through the open windows.
- We
stayed busy. At first, I was antsy. But, then we settled in and only got a
little bored late in the day. There’s plenty to do without technology!
- We
slowed down and appreciated quiet time. It was amazing just how relaxed I felt
as the day went on. No rushing from one thing to another. I even read aloud to
Brielle at a slower pace than I usually do without noticing at first!
- It
can be done and it can be fun! We had a great day together.
Will we do it again? Yes! However, I think next time we won’t
go quite as extreme. A day without the interruptions and time sucking qualities
that the computer, phones, TVs, and MP3 players have would still give us a
great break from our usual hectic days. I highly recommend a day without
technology, no matter how extreme you go!
“Dr. K” has been Brielle’s chiropractor for the last three
and half years. Shortly after we moved to the Atlanta area four years ago, I
read an article in the community newspaper about a local chiropractor who was working
with a disabled teenage boy. Finding a chiropractor who has experience and
confidence working with Brielle’s physical impairments is difficult, so I knew
this could be an opportunity for a “good fit”.
“Come on in, Stulls. What’s been happening?” he greets us at
each visit. While he adjusts Brielle, we talk about our families and life
events. We have been a support to one another as we’ve gone through the highs
and lows of life. Throughout it all, we share our stories of faith and devotion
to God. His unwavering devotion to his faith as head of his family is an
encouragement to me at every visit.
