One iPhone Down...

So in implementing my new slow down plan fate reared her ugly and sometimes helpful head.  I was enjoying the sound of a quiet house and decided fresh cleaned sheets were in order and I peeled them off the bed and tossed them in to wash.

The house remained quiet except the gentle churning of the washer and I was enjoying every minute of it, until a call I was expecting did not come.  I closed my eyes and envisioned the last time I was on my phone and sure enough I was lying in bed checking my email (a nasty little waking habit).  I whipped open the washer door and yanked out the sheets onto the floor.  in the shiny drum of the washer sat my phone, perfectly clean, and strikingly black.  I knew better than to turn it on and raced tot he pantry and buried it in a box of rice.

The long and the short of it... the phone was a goner, and I have never been happier.

I spent the first two days reaching for my phone to check my email every time I came to a stop light.  I had to remember lists and questions instead of acting on my impulse and hoping on the phone.  I could just leave the house and be free.  It was wonderful.  No one calling.  The emails had to wait.  Was it inconvenient.  ABSOLUTELY.  Were there time I shook my fist at the sky screaming why WHY.  Of course.  But I am getting used to it and have to say I love it.

Of course, I will still buy the new iPhone 5 next month but I am definitely going to leave it home or throw it in the trunk.  It feels good to disconnect.  I challenge you to do it.  Take a day or two, chuck it in a drawer (turn it off now, no cheating!) and enjoy the freedom.  Trust me all the calls and emails will be there later.  For now just enjoy yourself and those you are with.  I dare you.

An (Over) Active Life

I recently realized I have an active life.  Actually, it feels a little overactive to be honest.  So I am coming up with a plan to slow it down.  We will see how this works, because even as I write this I an thinking about a ton of things I need to do and want to do.

But seriously, have you ever watched The Notebook or a similar movie and thought.  I want that.  I want that calm, slower life?  Every so often I harp on my husband about moving to rural Georgia or rural somewhere to have land, nice neighbors with gentile ways and a life that doesn't have that much in the way of activities.  I want to write, can my own veggies, bake, take walks, and have little to no use for the new iPhone 5.

Right now, my days are spent getting kids ready for school, managing the house, cheerleading practice, cooking, play dates, art classes for the kids, constant mini trips, and saying yes to almost anything anyone asks me.

That is where I will start.  I am going to say NO.  Not all the time because well, that isn't neighborly or kind.  But I will not let people push me into assumptive tasks I have no desire to do.  Cheerleading... sell 10 books, "No, I will sell two."  Ha.  Look at that.

Then, I spend money a lot.  All day really my life revolves around spending money.  Unfortunately, I do not work and my husband doesn't make nearly as much as I have in mind to spend.  So I need something to do with myself that I enjoy and doesn't revolve around buying anything.

I am slightly OCD.  Not in a clean the doorknob 15 times before opening the door kinda way, but in the I get an idea in my head and nothing can stop me until I accomplish it.  This was great when I was younger, had a job, and when my controlling situations didn't involve so many family members.  But I am noticing it is not the best plan of action making people I love yield to my latest idea.  So, add that to the list of things to work on.

So anyways, I will be writing... blogging about slowing life down.  Enjoying what I am doing and enjoying my life.