Steve O’Neill did the almost-unthinkable…and kind of liked it.
It’s something that hasn’t happened in quite a while.
It took a little convincing, well kind of – all of 10 seconds.
I mean, how could I not?
It just feels so liberating, so free. I’ve done it before in the past. It helps time creep by at a snail’s pace; at my pace. This may be due to the fact it’s much harder to tell what time it is after it’s done.
Usually I do it after work as a means to calm myself down. You know, take a load off.
Sometimes it’s in the morning. I smirk as I let out a little chuckle knowing that my day has just started off on a great foot (which would be my right foot). I let the sun do its job, waking me up by placing a few warm rays of light on my face. The rest of my day usually runs a lot smoother.
This time I’m doing it at 1:33 AM.
I plan on keeping it up for the entire next day too. That would put me close to a personal best; at least domestically. I did it for nearly the entire three months I was in Europe.
When I tell people what I’ve done they almost always ask the same question,
“Aren’t you worried something will happen and you won’t know about it?”
Things are happening all of the time that I don’t know about; this won’t change that.
One way or another I’ll eventually find out what I need to find out. I know it’s a rather cavalier attitude to have, and a lot of people might be freaked out by the thought of it. But let me fill you in on a little secret I’ve discovered over the years that may just change your perspective.
99% of “emergencies” aren’t really emergencies.
Failing to respond to your text or email about what I’m doing tonight does not constitute an emergency. If you can’t find me inside the restaurant we’re meeting at within the first 30 seconds and I’m not answering my phone… spend 30 more seconds and look harder; you’re not going to starve. The average human being has a much greater capacity to problem solve than they like to believe. But having a permanent connection to someone or something that always “has the answer” alleviates responsibility and results in mental atrophy.
In other words, we’ve turned into lazy pieces of shit.
Sometimes the best thing we can do as individuals, from both a personal and professional stand point, is disconnect.
It allows our brain to rest. Just like our other muscles, the brain needs to recuperate. That’s when it grows and becomes stronger. Turning into a more powerful and efficient problem solving, deductive reasoning, critical thinking machine!
That’s what this is all about.
Without “emergencies”, the day flows from one moment to the next with ease, almost seamlessly. There are fewer distractions, less obnoxious noises, and nothing but time to focus on getting done what we want to get done.
Part of me absolutely loves to do it, while part of me rebels against it. I know what I’ve done won’t last forever, but I don’t want it too either. Too much of a good thing can quickly turn harmful. I don’t want to completely disconnect.
But there are times I just need to cut lose, you know? Break away from the shackles of constant connection. I love feeling free; emancipated to do what I please and not worry about anyone interrupting my adventure.
It’s just one more tool I use to enjoy the journey.
I talk a lot about enjoying life, but it’s when I do it that I discover the real payoff.
Shhhhhhh. Do you hear that? No? Exactly…
Silence.
One of the quickest routes to relaxation. A state reached so easily because of one simple action:
I turned off my cell phone.
Originally published at hobodrifter.com.