One day in early December, an image similar to this one popped up across my Instagram feed from Free People. Coming across this image, and also seeing several bloggers I follow use this same idea of being full present in our lives with the hashtag #presentDecember, I was challenged to make an adjustment in my life. Going to Puerto Rico, and spending time with the family over Christmas, I tried really hard to put down the iPhone as much as possible and avoid it's crazy draw to be on social media, and instead focused on being fully present in each moment. And let me tell you… it was so worth it.
I thoroughly enjoyed leaving my phone in the other room as I celebrated Christmas with my in-laws, and fighting the urge to check Instagram while playing games and sharing a meal with my family. It was like embracing a new kind of freedom! Isn't that nuts? It took away the distractions keeping me from fully embracing the special moments that I shared with my loved ones. I am so glad that I made this effort, especially this Christmas, because it was a particularly difficult one, being the first Christmas without my grandpa.
Losing my grandpa this past September, we all knew that the holiday season would feel weird and sad without him. Being prepared for this, we made a special effort to spend lots of quality time with each other. We went to movies, we played games, we shared meals, and had lots and lots of laughs together. It was SO so great, and a beautiful and tender way to bring healing to our grieving hearts and fill them with joy and laughter. Experiencing this time with my family, and the benefits of being fully present in each moment, it makes me sad and frustrated to realize how consuming Facebook, Instagram, and sometimes even blogging, can be.
I am a firm, and hardcore believer in finding balance in life, in knowing when to take a break, relax and just be. But what I apparently didn't realize was, even if I was taking the time to just sit on my couch and watch a movie or something, very often I was without even thinking, pushing that darn "F" icon on my iPhone to see what the rest of the world was up to. After taking somewhat of a break and dialing back on the frequency of my social media checking, I've discovered what a blessing it is to give it a rest.
With that said, this is something I want to work on.
As far as blogging goes… I fully intend on returning wholeheartedly to my little online space. God has put blogging on my heart for a reason, and I believe there is great value in living life together with our fellow bloggers and readers, encouraging one another across the web. But, I also want to grow in my understanding of what balance and rest and being full present looks like in my life. If that means that I have to take a break from blogging and risk losing my readership because I haven't blogged in over a month (forgive me for doing this!), I hope that you'll bear with me and understand that I have to keep it real and first and foremost, be present in the life that exists outside of the internet.
I am happy to have made my return, and am really looking forward to growing with you throughout this new year. Thank you SO much for sticking with me through the ebb and flow that is my blog.
xoxo
|| Image above from: Printabledecor.net ||
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