Embracing disconnect to reconnect

Recently, I left my house without my phone. Although I’m old enough to have once been a functioning adult without a cellphone, it felt very strange to be out and about without my constant companion.

What was I going to listen to as I was walking? What would I read on the train? What if I needed to navigate to my destination? What if my family discovered my phone at home and got worried because they couldn’t reach me? How would I know what time it was?

I almost turned around to retrieve my magical world-at-my-fingertips device, but I didn’t because (I assumed) it would make me late for my appointment.

But this small “mistake” ended up being a beautiful blessing. Throughout my outing, instead of constantly taking in external inputs like podcasts or scrolling, I was able to be fully present with my own thoughts and my own energy.

And instead of feeling disconnected from my loved ones and the world, through being in a place of deep presence, I actually felt reconnected to all beings—to the pigeon searching for a bite to eat, to the London plane tree standing sentinel through the sidewalk, to my neighbor walking her dogs, and to all of the vibrant sounds that make up the aural landscape of a city.

Accidentally gifting myself the silence from stimulation allowed me to return to a vibration of love.

Now I don’t necessarily intend to leave my phone at home every day. However, I do intend to more actively embrace a practice of silencing external stimuli and tuning in to my own authentic resonance throughout the day.

Have you, too, been feeling the nudge to disconnect to reconnect? Reply back and let me know—I’d love to hear how you’re doing.