Notes From A Junkie.

It took five years to gain the courage to actually do it.

It took three weeks of planning around my worst fears to do it.

But I did it.  Ten whole days without the internet having an internet break.  No surfing.  No emailing.  These were the notes I took on a yellow legal pad in pencil while experiencing the Ultimate Out-Of-Office Experience:

Day 1:  What are you supposed to do in line at the grocery store without a blackberry because you have internet break??

Day 2:  While circling a parking lot waiting for a spot, toddler sighs and remarks, “I don’t have time for this.”  Can’t Twitter it.  Depressing.

Day 3: Unsure of what to do about finding recipe for cherry pie without internet.  Took twenty minutes to realize that I’ve completely overlooked our 20+ cookbook collection.

Day 4: Just realized that not receiving emails on blackberry means not having to recharge it so often.  (Is “it” a metaphor for self?)

Day 5: Massive relief in the fact that I know my kids just as well without work as I do with work.  Haven’t missed a beat.  Doing ok as a working mom?  Check.

Day 6: Got online to make bank transfer–could not avoid.  Husband used my “excuse” to get online to check movie times.  Both asked the question:  is 777-FILM still around?

Day 7: Played lots of piano.  Amazing how much time there is to play the piano without an incoming stream of emails to get to.

Day 8: Found peace with Comcast.

Day 9: Want to poke and pinch and prod and nudge and nestle and cuddle and nuzzle my 6-month old 24/7.  Some things are internet-proof.

Day 10: Prepare for re-entry.  Fear the return.  But much like an addict, take pleasure in the knowledge that it will be painless and give me a rush to get back into the swing of things.

Time away from technology/internet break was the best thing that I’ve done in years.  My family enjoyed it so much that we’re going to do it three times a year.  I love me some technology, but to have the courage to step away have internet break was that much harder and that much more rewarding.  Life-changing, really.  Highly recommend.