Be present

Wow! I guess it's been awhile since my last entry..... And since then, something has really been on my mind. I have been reading a lot about being "present" in life.  If you're like me, technology consumes your day. I am always texting/looking things up on the Internet. Some of it is productive, but most isn't. In fact, often when I have a goal in mind and whip out the iPad, I completely forget what I was doing in the first place. Which means, nothing is completed.

I have been monitoring my ownself lately and looking deeper into my actions and how I spend my day. Most of it goes something like this: wake up, clean, get dressed, get Vera dressed, clean, get things ready for daycare, clean...... Daycare, surf the net to find activities/dinner for the day.... Check my e mail 800 times, Facebook, get out activities, then snack, lunch, naptime.... Some more Internet, reading, etc. snack time again, start cleaning up.... Think about dinner.... Start preparing dinner.... Clean some more. Work out. Get Vera dressed and ready for bed. Put her to bed.... Work out if I didn't already.... Shower. Clean some more. Watch a movie. Bed time.

This is generally how my days go. It's busy for sure... But I realize that sometimes, I'm not being "present" n my own life. I realize that while Brett and I are watching a movie.... One of us is using a technological device whether it be our cell phone, iPad, or kindle. Often, we look up things together (plan vacation, research a new purchase, and things like that). Sometimes, however, we are just sitting there and not really spending time together. This same thing also occurs while I'm cleaning or looking up new things to do in the day. Even though I spend 24/7 with Vera, how much time am I really spending with her if I am mkti tasking? In this day, we are very busy. We have a LOT to accomplish in our short days. My new goal, is to be more present in life. To drop the technology as often as possible and to clean only during certain times. I know this plan won't work perfectly...but I'm hoping it at least helps a little.

Do you ever find yourself doing this? Are you willing to give up a little technology to be "present" n your life?

Of course, sometimes things can't wait. Sometimes cleaning has to be done now. Sometimes you can't get on the floor and play with your kids every second they are awake. In fact, hat would be a little unhealthy. It's great for them to learn a little independence. But let's just try, even just a slight improvement will be worth it. After all... We won't regret that dirty laundry a year from now, or the e mail in or inbox being read a little later than usual. But we might regret not being present in our own lives.