Skinny Grey Dog

It’s hard to get away from dramatic extremes. TV shows with characters chopping off heads or having sex only a few hours after meeting are commonplace. Food that’s full of hot sauce before it’s considered any good. Why does it have to be peppercorn ranch or spicey chicken? What happened to the regular options?

The world around us is constantly upping its ‘game’ to get our attention. We click and swipe and text and try to make sense of it all, but only the loudest voice wins.

But what if the loudest voice is wrong?

What if the thing that gets our attention isn’t what we need? I’m not talking about religion or Jesus or anything like that – I’m talking about a calm place, someplace in the middle that doesn’t rip our senses apart when we consume it. What if that’s what we need?

I hear there’s a disorder called FOMO – fear of missing out. I think many of us have this in various degrees. And when we pursue the satisfaction of the fear, it turns out to be a hollow Easter bunny – it looks so good, and you bite into it with great expectations, but it crumbles into so much less than what it appeared to be. So we’re on to the next thing, trying to stay on top of it all, hoping for the satisfaction of innumerable reasons.

We need to step back into solitude for a while. Step back into the quiet place inside ourselves. We need to reconnect and appreciate who we are because we are strong, capable people (even if we don’t always feel that way).

You should try it – it’s so good for you. I’m not talking about total sensory deprivation – just putting away as much input as you’re comfortable with. (Mostly putting away digital media because it’s so ridiculous.) Taking a nap is an excellent way to unplug! Go! Right now!

You can also dance to the music from your high school days (it’s good exercise) or take a walk – as slow as you want. Reading is a given, but what if you re-read your favorite book from childhood? Or the one that affected you the most from middle school? (If you can, get hard copies. There’s nothing like holding the book in your hands to connect you to that time.) Check with your library and see what events are going on – they regularly have incredible speakers discussing their books and other wonderful events. Hobbies are excellent – anything that lets you work with your hands and meander with your mind is great for getting in there and reconnecting with yourself. Especially if something hurts.

Or, if you don’t want to be in total solitude, you can play cards with a friend or a game with your kids. Visit an elderly relative – you have no idea what joy you’d bring. But, overall, the best thing you could ever do for yourself is help someone else.

Drama is around every corner – it’s unavoidable. Sometimes, we need to reconnect with who we are before we’re lost trying to catch up.

Go take a nap!