Go a month without talking or messaging anyone via a mobile device or internet.
I had enough. I was being mentally bombarded by unseen pressure to keep in touch with people, yet starving to find peace for myself. I decided to do a social experiment. I’m an extrovert who was tired of being around people. I realize I'm on what I would call my social island with 2 hours from Valdosta and 2 hours from Atlanta where many of my friends live in both areas. Even though I’m in an area with thousands of people everywhere, I felt suffocated from…something. I’m still trying to put my finger on what specifically “IT” may be.
I had enough. I was being mentally bombarded by unseen pressure to keep in touch with people, yet starving to find peace for myself. I decided to do a social experiment. I’m an extrovert who was tired of being around people. I realize I'm on what I would call my social island with 2 hours from Valdosta and 2 hours from Atlanta where many of my friends live in both areas. Even though I’m in an area with thousands of people everywhere, I felt suffocated from…something. I’m still trying to put my finger on what specifically “IT” may be.
Have you ever felt like this person, or fear being in this situation?
I decided to stop communicating and feeding my desire of attention from others. I didn’t call, use facebook, or text anyone for a whole month. I also took out wasted time being “updated” via youtube or other video websites. Now, I did make 2-4 calls on the weekends for updates on weekly arrangements for meetings and work. I did respond to anyone who wanted to contact me via phone. It was almost torture sometimes.
Have you ever intentionally done something like this while you have access to the world in your palm?
Our ability in technology these days, especially in the palm of our hand with a smart phone, is absolutely mind blowing. I can easily pick my phone up right now, touch a button, and call friends in 24 countries around the world and 24 other states in America. Maybe some of my friends are intentionally trying to ignore me? I’m left only in my thoughts.
Have you ever intentionally done something like this while you have access to the world in your palm?
Our ability in technology these days, especially in the palm of our hand with a smart phone, is absolutely mind blowing. I can easily pick my phone up right now, touch a button, and call friends in 24 countries around the world and 24 other states in America. Maybe some of my friends are intentionally trying to ignore me? I’m left only in my thoughts.
Here are my 13 conclusions from this “experiment”.
- I truly do become exhausted of being around people too much
- I deeply yearn to be poured into and find peace
- It takes a lot of effort to be intentional and maintain communication
- Very few of my friends actually contacted me during this time
- I have usually been the one who initiates conversations
- I have wasted so much time with youtube and games
- The temptation to connect with people was more controllable than thought
- I found the time of “fasting” great for reading, writing, and research
- As a Christian, I deeply desired to hear from the Father
- The Father speaks in the stillness
- After a while, I was starving for community and connection
- I was way out of the loop on social media and events, but I didn’t really care
- I was able to intensely focus and analyze current and past relationships
I was able to live a life-style of being disconnected from many people whole I traveled on the World Race for 11 months, even though I had a smothering of community with the whole time on the trip. It was great to relive similar restrictions, yet more challenging than one imagines in our “communicate now with everything frenzy” culture and ease of access.
- I truly do become exhausted of being around people too much
- I deeply yearn to be poured into and find peace
- It takes a lot of effort to be intentional and maintain communication
- Very few of my friends actually contacted me during this time
- I have usually been the one who initiates conversations
- I have wasted so much time with youtube and games
- The temptation to connect with people was more controllable than thought
- I found the time of “fasting” great for reading, writing, and research
- As a Christian, I deeply desired to hear from the Father
- The Father speaks in the stillness
- After a while, I was starving for community and connection
- I was way out of the loop on social media and events, but I didn’t really care
- I was able to intensely focus and analyze current and past relationships
I was able to live a life-style of being disconnected from many people whole I traveled on the World Race for 11 months, even though I had a smothering of community with the whole time on the trip. It was great to relive similar restrictions, yet more challenging than one imagines in our “communicate now with everything frenzy” culture and ease of access.
It is crucially needed for each of us to find solitary to find oneself and true desires.
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