This morning, I was feeling really productive.
I got my four miles in (p.s. it's REALLY cold outside), played with Cameron a little bit, made a pot of coffee, packed my lunch and got to work on time. Typically, all of those things happen only when the stars align. When I got on Metro and dug into my purse to grab my badge for work, I felt so good about myself. Then, I realized I forgot my phone.
Anyone that knows me at all knows that my phone is my lifeline. I feel lost without it. I text my friends, talk to my family, use it as a clock, etc. I'm totally dependent on an electronic device that fits in my pocket. And I really don't know why.
I didn't get a cell phone until my high school graduation. That may seem strange now, since kids are given cell phones at 10 and 12 years old, but back in 2004, it wasn't that unusual. Some teens were handed cell phones when they started driving, but many of us didn't get phones until we were heading off to college.
Seven years later, I have a personal cell phone and a Blackberry for work. I am constantly connected to the outside world.
At one point this summer when I was on duty for the Emergency Operations Center at Idaho National Lab (INL), I carried my personal cell phone, my D.C. Blackberry, INL Blackberry and an emergency pager. I also had a phone in my apartment and a phone at my desk at work. Not to mention, I sat in front of a computer all day! Literally, I could be reached 24/7.
What would happen if I just gave it all up? If, for a day, I didn't answer my cell phone/text, use my Blackberry, didn't check my e-mails and stayed off Facebook.
Well, I'm sure I would lose my job - I do HAVE to the be on the computer/reachable by Blackberry and need to be responsive via e-mail. That aside, the world wouldn't end. I actually think it would be liberating to go on a "cell phone free diet." I would accomplish more both at work and at home, and it would force my hand to talk to people face-to-face, rather than typing a quick text or calling with a question. Granted, there are friends long-distance that I wouldn't be able to contact, but unless there was an emergency, would that be such a disaster?
So, here goes nothing...I am cell phone free for the day (well, at least till I get home).
Could you do it? Could you disconnect?
Happy running!
OK, already gave you my thoughts on the joy of silence. In regard to a daily workout (in your case, running) what do _you_ do to break up the
ReplyDeleterhythm, aside from running different distances? Do you do sprints, anything like that? We almost always ran every day, but sometimes we'd do something different (run on the beach in the deep sand, do an obstacle course). We always did stretches and sets of exercises before we ran, and would usually vary our workout with different exercises so we wouldn't get used to it and plateau. Thoughts?