{"id":1181,"date":"2011-04-01T11:53:42","date_gmt":"2011-04-01T11:53:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/?p=1181"},"modified":"2011-04-01T11:53:42","modified_gmt":"2011-04-01T11:53:42","slug":"i-had-it-all","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/2011\/04\/01\/i-had-it-all\/","title":{"rendered":"I Had It All"},"content":{"rendered":"
Last weekend I was inspired by my readers to \u201craise the bar\u201d on my growing desire to live Hands Free.<\/p>\n
So I did something that was challenging for me. I turned off my hand held communication device and my computer on both Saturday and Sunday, as described in my post, “A Major Turn Off.”<\/a><\/p>\n Thought of such action may have caused heart palpitations and sweaty palms for some (including myself).<\/p>\n But to others, the thought of such a measure was no big deal because they spend every weekend that way. (Insert “p<\/em>at on the back” <\/em>here.)<\/p>\n But regardless of how ludicrous OR how simple my personal challenge appeared to you, you did not judge. I thank you for that.<\/p>\n We have discussed this week that \u201cbaby steps\u201d into a Hands Free life are often required. And whether my baby steps are the same, different, more challenging, or less challenging than your <\/em>baby steps, there is no room for judgment in this journey\u2026only encouragement.<\/p>\n Thank you for the encouragement.<\/p>\n So how did it go? Several of you have asked. Thank you for asking.<\/p>\n There are only four words to describe my weekend with no cell phone and no computer\u2026<\/p>\n I had it all.<\/strong><\/p>\n Because I let go of distraction for two whole days, \u201call\u201d life has to offer was in my grasp. And with it, I realized two things:<\/p>\n – I never realized how much \u201cdaily distraction\u201d makes its way into my home, into my thoughts, into my happiness, and into my life through my cell phone and my computer.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n (It might just be me, but that realization sends shivers up my spine. Would I purposely open a vent that allowed carbon monoxide to invade my home? Of course not. Then why would I keep the pathway of distraction \u201copen\u201d so that it can poison my \u201cfamily time\u201d by preventing personal connection and purposeful interaction?)<\/em><\/p>\n <\/em>– I also fully realized how daily distraction has a sneaky way of stealing time, that precious rare commodity that once we lose, we never regain. Every time I get on to check email, Facebook, or search the Internet, suddenly a large chunk of time is gone. Is that really how I want to spend my precious family time?<\/strong><\/p>\n And only by turning my computer and phone off completely for two whole days did I have these powerful revelations.<\/p>\n For two days, I could breath easier. The laughter came easier. The ability to relax came easier, and it remained longer.<\/p>\n Why? Because I had time.<\/em><\/p>\n Time was in my hands\u2026instead of the other way around.<\/p>\n And in that precious time, I had it all\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n I had time to laugh.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n I had time to dance.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n I had time to make sweet creations with little hands.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n I had time to add the sprinkles. (Life is just better with sprinkles, don\u2019t you think?)<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n I had time to sit down and enjoy every single bite of Daddy\u2019s homemade pancakes and waffles.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n I had the time to help my daughters make someone else smile.<\/strong><\/p>\n