Back At It Again

If you haven't noticed, I had a little hiatus from social media and really anything on my phone that did not include direct contact with people. For the last month and a half my family and I paused from social media, and we only used our phones for calls, text messages, and occasional email when absolutely necessary. We realized we needed a hard reset, and what better time to do it than the summer. We took some time to really pay attention to where we were. We visited family, and we took a couple of vacations during this time.

The first week I found myself mindlessly opening social media and gaming apps throughout the day and quickly closing them. By week two I was mindful, and the accidental openings didn't happen as much. By week three, I didn't miss any of it at all. If I am honest, it was only supposed to last for the month of June, but I enjoyed it so much that I struggled to get back on. This week I engaged a little, maybe three times, and I was reminded why I enjoyed my own uninterrupted thoughts more than all the noise, news, and unnecessary information.

I know, social media and having unlimited information at our fingertips can be an amazing tool, but if we are honest, most of us use it to escape, drown out our worries, and ultimately, we waste a large amount of time. I feel a stronger responsibility to use all of it better; to manage the time I am on it more wisely, and most importantly to share the message behind Mom Dreams more than indulging in other information that does not serve me, my family, or my mission. I am not abandoning hilarious memes and truth telling messages because Lord knows I need them. I am just choosing to focus more on the things that matter.

While away, I was more present in moments without the urge to capture everything in photo or video. With family, I was more intentional because I didn't have to consciously block out all the frustrating and disappointing news and opinions about that news. In my thoughtfulness and planning for Mom Dreams, nothing was interrupted by trends, pressure, or the knowledge of what other people were doing. It was just me and my thoughts, clarity, intentionality in relationships, and overall, just me being.

It just so happened that my last weekend of no social media fell on a day that my daughter and I planned to spend time together. We spent the entire day in the Historic Downtown Lancaster Square, and I could not escape the reminder of our need for community and connection. We attended A Little More Truth's writing circle at Kyotobrew, and the writing prompt that spoke to me the most was, "What is your theme song in this season?" Immediately I thought of Back at it Again because I was staring down the barrel of blogging again, planning the next Mom Dreams event, and laying out the vision for what's next.

It was fulfilling to connect with other local writers, like minded and eager to grow, learn, and connect. I met a young woman who writes fiction books, and she shared all the things she has been learning in the process. She is an avid reader, and she read over 400 books just last year. I felt inspired, and a little ashamed. I love to read, and I started many, but barely finished 3 books last year because I did not prioritize it. I met another woman who is a freelance writer. She was working on articles to pitch to local magazines. She shared that she went to stores, restaurants, and local shops to pick up magazines for research to learn more about what people are reading and the writing style these magazines look for. This is something I have always wanted to do, but honestly, I just haven't pursued it.

After writing circle, my daughter and I attended Simply Grace Gardens' Grow Box Workshop. We learned about tropical plants, planted tropical fruits, and I received more to add to my little garden. I am learning that gardening is so therapeutic for me, and although I shared some months ago that I kill plants, I am happy to report my veggies are alive and thriving. As we exited the workshop, we were pleasantly surprised with the night market in the square full of small businesses showcasing foods, sweets, products, and creative works. Music playing, smiles on every face, and our community coming together to support local businesses was the extra boost I needed.

In the last month we have witnessed my son graduate high school, celebrated Father's Day and a 17-year wedding anniversary, road tripped to the mountains, met my great niece for the first time, attended vendor pop ups to enjoy new products, visited nostalgic places that resurfaced amazing memories of my twenties, and helped plan a 20-year class reunion. Yes 20 years! But nothing compares to this moment right now as I share with you, the Mom Dreams community. I have missed you immensely, and I feel a strong sense of responsibility to connect, share, and reveal more. I do not know what the remaining of this year holds, but I do know I am looking forward to sharing these moments with you. We are working on projects, building more relationships, receiving immeasurable resources beyond money, and valuing the small. The most valuable treasures are hidden in small places. I cannot wait to hear how your summer has been, and I am looking forward to sharing this next chapter with you.

As we near the end of summer, and prepare for a new school year, please know I have your hearts that need rest in mind. As we transition from going to the grocery store way too often, to morning drop offs and homework, I have you in mind. As we celebrate empty homes, but grieve empty gas tanks, I have you in mind. With every change in season, unexpected transition, and shifting to-do lists, I am thinking of what you may need and what we can do to make it a little easier. I love you all immensely and I cannot wait to hear from you.