Hello my dearest ones. I’ve been thinking. Oh, yes, I know that sounds dangerous, but stay with me here.
You know that on The Inspired Room blog I try to encourage us to have Inspired Lives, not just Inspired Rooms, right? Because my motto is “our life should inspire our homes” first and foremost, it is about our life. And if our life is not being lived in balance, to its fullest, or if we are neglecting very important parts of our life, our homes are just empty decorated shells.
I cannot in good conscience encourage you to decorate, decorate, decorate when I don’t balance things out with considering the life behind the decor. Because that is not what matters most to me. So, this is one of those posts! Yes, we’ve shared many over the past 7 months. Like here, here, and here, and here, and here.
Remember a little over a week ago when we were getting inspired to find beauty everyday? Remember my little interview with Alexandra Stoddard? Remember how she said “mostly it is not good to be so connected”?
I’ve been mulling that thought over as I had before she even said it. I’m torn. Torn between the great love I have for blogging and the people I’ve met, and the need for solitude and real life interaction.
And those words “mostly it is not good to be so connected…” keep running through my mind. “Mostly it is not good,” she said.
Now, I realize that she is not a blogger so she may not see the wonderful community and business opportunity we all have here. There are wonderful things about being connected in this way!
But that doesn’t change the point of her words. Online community and opportunity are good things. But are they The Best Things? The things we should pour ourselves into above all else? And does our frantic pace and lack of focus on what is really important to us keep us from truly experiencing the life we could lead, if we knew how to balance it all?
I’ve been wanting to revisit Alexandra’s statement. I have been writing my thoughts over the past few days in preparation to share this when I visited the blog of one of our dear contributors to inspiration week. When I saw that her thoughts were resonating with my own heart, I knew that now was the time for me to share. For sure. She is a kindred spirit!
I’ve heard from so many of you since that Alexandra interview. Those of you who understand what Alexandra meant. Those of you who have that still small voice inside of you nudging you to “step away from the computer” (or telephone, or tv or whatever it is that keeps us from living the life we really want) and engage yourself part of the week in something else.
I don’t think that little voice in our heads means we need to completely abandon blogging. But I do think that little voice is nudging us to balance our time online. To see it for what it is. A wonderful thing that can sometimes make us lose sight of The Best Things. A wonderful thing that sometimes consumes hours upon hours of our day. Every day. A wonderful thing that sometimes becomes the center of our world and runs our life. The thing we run to.
What if we accepted the challenge to completely disconnect just one day a week or a couple of evenings? Or two days? Or three? What could we do with our newfound concentration? With some time of solitude? Would we feel differently? Would our creativity and productivity soar? Would our relationships in our own family grow? Could we use our time to exercise? Pray? Play? Read? To enjoy the beauty of life? Would we be more organized or prepared for other things in life? Would that time of disconnect be the thing that brings us our next opportunity, because we took the time necessary to be proactive on something?
I for one am accepting the challenge to take balanced living to a new level. I will continue to set boundaries around schedule so I can slow down my pace and have even more balance in my life. And that is my goal. Balanced Living. My goal is not to be blogger extraordinaire or know all of the great insights from Google. I do not need to connect so much.
So, I invite you to join me in this challenge. If you want to. Not all of you need this. But look at your life and ask yourself some questions. Are you spending enough time with your husband? With your kids? With God? Or alone? You can join in this any way you want, including unplugging the phone and TV if they distract you or fill up too much of your time. You can choose a half a day, or evening or a couple of days. Or just the early morning hours. Whatever feels right to you. No pressure from me to do this, we all need to do what is right for us.
I need time for solitude. I need time to connect with my husband. I need to spend more time with my kids. I need to exercise. I need down time. I really need this challenge, probably more than I realize.
Are you with me?
Bravo, bravo, bravo!! Couldn’t agree more. Though I love this blogging community and the friends I’ve made, I realize that when the mom/wife is busy running the blog and not the house, the house falls apart. And that is my first ministry! But I am floundering on which days I will take off. I have always taken off Sundays but then I’ve done a double post on Saturdays. Does representing Christ in such a public way mean that I NEED to post a Church at Home every Sunday? Right now, I’ve been taking each day as they come and if I have the time to blog, I do. But some days I don’t. Odd how this tears at me! Odd that a year ago, I didn’t even know all these amazing girls. Odd the path God has taken me down in this very personal release from my fears. Odd that it had to be in front of the whole world. I need my blog now as it has become part of God’s extended hand to me… and from me. Odd… blessings, Polly
I have been thinking the same thing Melissa. On one hand I love all the wonderful new friends I have met but I also think I have wasted alot of valuable life event time. The conflict is that blogging/internet gives me the instant visual thirst that I seem to crave. But the time I spend is time away from actually creating and doing. I know that I will not totally walk away but I have found that being a bit more organized with my computer time has helped.
Being selfish for a second I feel a sigh of relief knowing I’m not the only one who needs a time out once in a while! I got back from vacation on Sunday thinking I was going to go full speed ahead. But as the days passes, I decided to slow things down a bit. Thank you for your inspiration and words of wisdom.
I gave up computer before noon for Lent, and I hafta say that at first it was REALLY HARD! Isn’t that SAD? but it is the truth. Now it’s not at all bad, and it feels sooo good to have a better balance (not to mention focus!) and begin my day without having to get on the internet! (((((HUGS))))) sandi
Oh Melissa, you have given voice to a feeling that I have had for weeks now. I think I have just unconsciously taken a break — mostly not visited everyone — and I felt bad about that. But I’ve also gained so much peace from not trying to cram too much into my day.
Thank you so much for voicing this. I loved seeing the pictures of your family, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
xoxo,
Mary
I started blogging as a free precursor to some PR I wanted to do in starting my own business. Somewhere along the line it has contributed to stalling out the “launch” date by eating up way too much of my time. I work semi-full time and have a family,and have been remodeling our house for the last 1 1/2 years. I enjoy blogging so much and agree totally with all you have said about meeting other like minded design enthusiasts. And I think having a blog is really helpful in so many ways. But if I put as much effort into getting the business up and running as I do blogging, I think it would be going strong by now, and i could be at home (home business) where my family is (which is one of the goals). You are so right! Although I do not post as many as some for the very reasons you mention, I can see that my family wouldrather I be with them more often.
Thank you Melissa for the reality check, and for Ms. Stoddard who put that bug in your ear.
Blogging has been one of the greatest joys in my life but it is also overwhelming at times. I have found that I need to step back often and stay away for a little while. Life just goes by so fast and I do not want to miss it. I can be easily caught up in something I so enjoy so it has been necessary for me to pull myself out from time to time.
I would miss it horribly if I gave it up so finding the balance is key. I am still searching for that. You must do what your heart tells you to do. You are such a special person and we will all back you up in any decision you make regarding this.
Stay well, be happy and have a sweet weekend!
Hugs,
Sue
I’m with you Melissa, I’m 100% with you!! I make sure I have coffee with my friends at least twice a week, you know real people and real coffee, Tony and I go out for dinner every Saturday night – don’t get me wrong I love my blogging friends too but… I now need to go a step further and have at least a few hours in the afternoon everyday disconnected, in this time. Isn’t it nice to know you’re not the only one feeling like this. Let’s hope we can all find the right balance for each one of us
well i’m happy to take that challenge and i don’t have any problems with that.
for years i do it on a daily base, disconnecting!! leaving the outside behind me, concentrating, silence!! just heavenly!
I’ve been so disconnected from the blogs I love, like YOURS!
After I get Today’s Creative Blog posted, I hardly have time anymore for the surfing I once did.
Can’t wait to go back and read your interview.
Melissa, I am so glad you mentioned your interview with Alexandra Stoddard. Since I just recently found your blog, I had not been privy to your experience when you first posted.
I so identify with your thoughts about living life. I learned years ago to treasure each moment. As each year in my life passes, I become more certain to take the time to savor everything around me. I believe happiness is a choice, and I choose to be happy.
Thank you for sharing.