Take Time to Unplug
Here in Tampa, Florida we just lived through two back-to-back hurricanes plus an exhausting election. No matter your feelings about the outcome, we all need a break!
I encourage you to take time to unplug. Turn off that phone, travel to some new surroundings, and take time to rest and renew. Reconnect with friends, read, and spend time in quiet spaces.
Go somewhere by yourself and take time to think and consider. Our phones are demanding. We used to have time in our day to just sit and think, to ruminate on events in our lives. Those few minutes at a traffic light can be valuable time for reflection. But now we tend to grab our phone to entertain ourselves. That time lost in reflection could do us a lot of good, but now is often lost.
I am consciously taking time to disconnect from all the noise and drama. I am taking a break from the news, and staying off Facebook. I need a break from all of it. This especially true during the holiday season.
I hope you’ll give yourself permission to move through the holidays in the way that serves YOU best. Our culture demands that you follow certain traditions, but this may be a year when you need a break from all the holiday expectations. Consider a Friends-giving at a quiet retreat. Reconnect with those you love the best and allow yourself to stop for a span of time and enjoy the company of your favorite humans. Take a long weekend with your special someone, or plan a girls’ weekend escape to some peaceful place.
My husband and I have talked about how we need this ourselves, and we’re happy that the environment we have created at our Bed & Breakfast is tailor made to help people enjoy a quiet getaway at a time when we all need it the most. Take that time to unplug, turn off the phone, travel to new surroundings, and soak up some renewing peace and quiet. For myself, this is absolutely necessary if I’m going to move forward from this moment with strength and clarity. Before I begin my next chapter, I need self-care. I’m planning this for myself right now. I hope you’ll do the same.
Tim Hinton
November 11, 2024
