It has been a busy summer.
I’ve had some projects to work on – consulting on diversity issues, production work, and a few writing assignments (will share about an exciting writing project soon). Also, read some interesting writings to further my Yoga practice – practice of Jnana Yoga, the Yoga of knowledge.
But mostly my role of a parent has kept me busy. I’ve been home with the kids except for those precious work hours when hubby has taken time off work and lived up to his role of the other parent.
Ours is a loud, bustling home, where I am teaching my two spirited kids to work together in a flow, and not look at anything as a chore. Everything falls in the same category for us – cooking, cleaning, singing, dancing, doing chalk-art on the driveway, and the highlight of our summer: bike riding. I bought a new bicycle last week and it has been more fun now that I ride with my six-year old. It has thrown an additional challenge at her, as she bikes harder and faster to match an adult’s strength.
Three more weeks until school reopens and my daughter begins Grade 1. My son, who is three years younger, has two more years to full-time school.
Three weeks of summer.
Three weeks of unplugged summer.
Yes, I have decided to go Internet-free for these three weeks of summer. Don’t get me wrong. I love the connectivity of Internet. It is not a detox-diet of sorts, because that would be calling the connectivity of Internet, toxic, and I don’t consider it toxic.
It is just a simple break.
I am not going anywhere. I will be home but will unplug the Internet cable tonight; the cable that also feeds our television. Yes, no cable programming, no Netflix and no YouTube. No blogging, no tweeting, sharing posts on Facebook, no checking and replying to emails.
No connectivity with the outside world.
Why?
It is time to recharge my inner connectivity.
As humans, we all come to a point where the outside noise drowns us to an extent that we lose sight of our inner being, our real Selves. Yoga teaches to reach within and never lose focus. It is definitely easier to do that away on a fancy Yoga retreat, or in the sacred space of an ashram, but very challenging to do in everyday bustling city life with two spirited kids. The last time I physically and virtually disconnected was two years ago. This time, I can’t physically remove myself, so I have decided to at least unplug my virtual life.
As a Yogini, I understand I have to strengthen my practice with the distractions but living the modern city life and raising two kids, I need to recharge my inner focus without the distractions. My iPhone stays with me, as I can’t jeopardize my kids and my safety but I will have no virtual connectivity on it.
But there is a realistic, practical side of virtual connectivity: paying bills, responding to important emails and other activities. I have set-up auto-payments, auto-replies, and already communicated with people I really need to.
For the rest and unseen, my very-supporting hubby, Jasbir, is going to fill in: he will be keeping a tab on important communication through his iPhone’s 3G network (I don’t subscribe to one). I’ve instructed him not to update me of any event, except for an emergency. The hardest for the journo in me will be to not follow news. The only temptation I’ll have to resist is, tune in to the radio in the car, as I don’t have a physical radio set at home (I stream it online).
These three weeks will give me the time and focus to strengthen my Dhyana (meditation), catch up on my reading, work on two important writing projects and train my kids to live without Netflix cartoons. Not that they spend too much time on TV, but I want them to have moments where they are bored, and “invent” entertainment and not tune in to virtual entertainment. Sounds good as a theory, let’s see how the practical side of it unfolds (or explodes!)
I will be back to the connected world after three weeks, on Tuesday, September 3 – first day of school and my hubby’s birthday. Will also share how the disconnected three weeks went by.
Stay connected! 🙂
(If you leave a comment today, I will moderate and post. From tomorrow, my husband will take up the role of the moderator for three weeks. I’ll reply when I come back. Thank you!)
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Categories: Yoga
Can you give up your wants and live peacefully with needs? 
Sandhu Bhamra on Finding Self 
Bravo! I’ll look forward to your return, and more great articles to post and discuss (although that last discussion was probably what caused you to need a break!)
Bob W. Editor
Best of Yoga Philosophy
haaa!!! Nah, that kind of discussion actually aids in Yoga practice – it challenges your ego, your own sense of this Maya… only Yog Sadhna helps you sail through, it doesn’t exhaust you. My Dhyana routine is suffering, because my kids take a lot of my physical and spiritual energy. Hubby work hours are erratic, so by the end of the day, I am ending up watching TV, surfing the net. Even if it’s do with relevant information, it doesn’t justify me not paying attention to Dhyana. So that’s why. Will be interesting to share what I went through (with the kids) – I’ve been net-free earlier as well, but I’ve been alone, without any responsibility. This time will be challenging. 🙂
Hi Anu ji. This is an empowering endeavor. Needs a lot of sadhana n motivation to do so. The power of obscurity is in connecting us to the source within. Good luck.
Thank you Anirudh ji. I’ve done this before – it isn’t that tough – as in we humans are capable of much more. But the biggest challenge is how we sustain it in the real world. Sadhana in the jungle of life is tough! Thank you for your wishes.
Just unplug & the rest will follow automatically – if one tries to make settings then one gets lost in those (maya) – do it & you will be afloat – no worries . Om Shanti
Thanks for the positive vibes.
Looking forward to what you’ll have for us when you return. Inf act, when you return is probably when you’ll read this comment, Anu!
I will share it soon Tim. Hope you have been well.