Revisiting a Simple Life
This is a partial post from June 2014. I was thinking of hiking and swimming in the lake, and I was reminded of this lovely escape I gave myself one weekend. As much as I love winter, I do at times dream of warmer weather.
Sometimes I just need to get away. I'm not one who really enjoys the social media frenzy, cell phones, or even the internet. I find all of these things useful, and once in a while even like them, but most of the time I just want to get away from all of it.
I live a rather quiet and simple life as it is, but that doesn't stop me from filling my days until I'm exhausted, overworked, and can think only of unplugging for days on end. I've managed to cut back on certain areas of frenzied life and replace those crazy moments with a little more R&R, but it's not always easy.
For me, the best way to unplug is to simply walk away. Turn off the electronics, step away from the computer, leave the phone in the office, and step outside. Go for a hike, a walk, breath in the fresh air, walk through the gardens - just walk away. That's exactly what I did, and I want to do it more often.
Back to present day . . . I've spent ALL morning setting up a new computer. The new one was starting to fight me on how it wanted to work, so it was time to part ways, at least for daily use. When I'm writing, I don't want to deal with a temperamental electronic. But then when I got the darn thing up, I remembered the gazillion little tasks that come with setting up a new system. My consolation prize is knowing I get to play with all the pretty new software.
This weekend, I hope to finish another short story before diving back into life with the Gallaghers. I've been going back and forth between a few projects, and I'll admit it's a challenge to keep up with them all. However, I can't imagine not doing it. I never feel so free as when I stand on a mountain, swim in a clear, mountain lake, or escape into one of my stories.
What simple things do you enjoy?
Be kind, be well, and stay bookish!
~MK
