The Good Old Days vs Technology
Recently, I stumbled across the first episode of The Wonder Years. Remember that show? I always loved it and decided to watch a few episodes. So, I sat there comfy on my couch, watching The Wonder Years, drinking my tea with a smile.
The show reminded me of simpler times and the simple things in life. Being a kid without a cell phone. Playing outside and knowing it’s dinner time by the location of the sun. Your first crush. Learning from books – remember the door-to-door sales pitch for Encyclopedia Britannica? Making phone calls with a rotary phone (I’m really showing my age here). Dinner at the kitchen table with the whole family. That time when you are coming-of-age, and the worst part of your day was being told to do your homework and chores before dinner. All these things make me grateful for the era I grew up in.
In first episode of The Wonder Years, Kevin, Paul and Winnie were attending their first day of junior high. Ahh, junior high. They were best friends and did everything together. Then there was Kevin’s little shit brother, Wayne, who was the absolute worst. He picked on Keven every chance he had. Kevin’s mom greeted his dad with a cocktail after work but she was the loving, nurturing mom who always knew the right thing to say. Kevin’s dad was the hard-working father who worked all day and expected order when he came home but spent time in front of the TV after work. Then there was the cool, rebellious hippie older sister who clashes with the overbearing dad. I loved her, naturally. I mean all she wanted was peace and love! The show was focused on relationships with family and friends, the hardship and fun of growing up, and captured social and political factors of that era. All without social media.
There is so much nostalgia for me in this show and it really did get me thinking about the good old days. I’m sure everyone has their own version of what they consider “good old days” and for me it’s everything described above. Simplicity, family, friends, being outdoors all day until dinner, climbing trees, playing, not worrying about self-consciousness, hate, and anger. Just being with the neighborhood kids playing kickball, not being glued to a phone or computer and not worrying about what people say or do on social media.
The days before our current technology world feel simpler, don’t they? I realize this may only resonate with my 40+ something friends, but hey, stick with me here.
Because I was in this nostalgic feel-good mood, I decided to put my technology away for a day. One whole day to reminisce of my version of the good ‘ol days. I turned my cell off, no podcasts, no TV, no Audible books, no online searching, no shopping. I read a book, although it wasn’t an Encyclopedia it was still a good read. I stepped out in nature for a long hike and got dirty. I sat on my deck and enjoyed the sounds of birds and wind (maybe with a small glass of bourbon). I did yoga. I played with the dogs and worked in my garden. It was honestly, heaven.
I realized how beautiful of a thing this tiny task was. To just shut it all off and focus on the here and now and my current surroundings. It allowed me to be present. Yes, I fully realize the common use of the words “being present” these days, but it is easier said than done for me. Something about planning for this tech-off time helped me get to that point and I loved every second…well, almost every second. There were times when I wondered if anyone texted or called.
Overall I realized that turning it off truly helped me reduce my daily stress and anxiety. I tried to focus on the now and be grateful for what I have and even what I don’t have. I’ve always been someone who connects with the natural world but having an entire day of no external distractions was pretty incredible. And I highly recommend it.
So today, I want to challenge anyone reading this to try and take one day, or half a day, to turn off all technology. Get outside. Play. Laugh. Walk. Get dirty. Smile. Do something for you!
It’s one easy step to take and I encourage you all to try it. What do you have to lose? A text? It will still be there when you turn it all back on. Just try it.
Peace & Love my beautiful friends,
Nikki
What do you think? Am I crazy or is this something you would try?
Leave me a comment below or share a photo of you on your tech-free day on Instagram @TheSunshineHustle.
