Some reflections from the reading break

My reading break ended last Thursday. This was part of the week-4 tasks in The Artist's Way. Basically, I didn't read any blog posts, articles, personal emails or any other social media, and didn't read any books. Here are a handful of things I learned during that down time.

• I have more “free time” available to me than I realize
• I want to distract myself with social media… Why is that?
• When I gave up looking for something to pre-occupy my attention, I actually ended up choosing action:
• • going to bed early
  • working out
  • getting laundry done
  • writing a blog post about a wildflowering date I took with my wife
  • enjoying listening to full albums
  • • Ethan Nathaniel's latest album, River of Gladness
    • Andrew Peterson and friends' tribute concert to Rich Mullins, A Liturgy, a Legacy, & the Songs of Rich Mullins (Live)
    • JJ Heller's album, Love
    • Jess Ray's latest album, MAMA
• My thoughts are not as terrifying to be with as I originally “thought” they would be… I can sit with a calm mind
• I can “Do one thing at a time,” and my life is richer for it

Also, when I came back from the break – and this is not to diss anyone's sharing online as I am doing now – but I found that I really didn't miss much online in one week. When I take some space from the stream of data and content, I can see with better perspective. This was a good exercise in discerning what is really worthy of my time and attention, like my family, nature, and my own soul. I recommend giving it a try!