Plasma Screens

I have a love/hate relationship with my iPhone. I love being able to stream pandora in the backyard, take photos, edit and upload them instantly. The gps, and instant google are also bonuses. But I hate that I'm always staring at this tiny thing.

I noticed recently, that my family tends to rotate which screen we are staring at. Be it the laptop, the iPhone, or the tv with its Netflix, xbox, blueray or Olympic viewing features. We will pleasantly rotate from screen to screen until someone (usually me) suggest we make a meal or go check on the chickens.

Now, don't get me wrong, we learn a lot while using our devices. How to count or swim, names of weeds, awesome homemade recipes for chicken electrolytes, fall gardening tips, what our friends are doing in their spare time, how to make vegetable tarts, etc. But we also have to shift through Justin bieber nonsense, political annoyance, complaining, recipes for everything, pinterest posts, and other peoples religious opinions instead of looking at each other in the face and playing color-coded dominos.

I do acknowledge that my industry wouldn't exist without those who are dialed in, taking photos, posting and reporting about pop culture. So that part of me, the I-need-to-care-to-get-paid part seriously conflicts with my I-know-I'm-staring-at-my-iPhone-because-I'm-trying-to-determine-if-that-plant-is-poisonous-but-my-daughter-only-knows-I'm-staring-at-my-phone-again part and I'm thinking it's time for a shift. I feel less lame if my girl sees me using books to try and answer questions (probably because she can look too without an accidental keystroke messing everything up). We love getting dirty together and are about to enter a new project focused completely on dirt, compost and chicken poop, without technology.

In all this rambling I'm hearing myself say I need to find a way to glean only the knowledge I'm searching for and then put the device down! Find a way to incorporate the girl into the research process, especially since it seems to take twice as long as the projects do. I hate schedules at home (home is for relaxing and being free), but maybe it's time to schedule computer time and unhook my phone from the interwebs ?? IPhone only for photos and music?

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For more thoughts on this idea check out Rachel Macy Stafford's writings on this blog: www.handsfreemama.com

Anti-Goals

When I was younger, life was a little more black and white. There were things you did because they were expected of you or because that was just how it was done. And things you didn't do, for the same reasons. As I got older, I tested some of these Do's and Don'ts and, in some cases, found easier, better for me ways to do some of them. Some Don'ts became Always and some Do's became Nevers. During this learning process I also rediscovered that if I put any energy toward something, I could usually accomplish it. I wanted on the dance team, so i did the work, and made it. I wanted decent marks on the SAT, it happened. I wanted my own car, it manifested. I found 100 pennies when I needed gas money, i wanted an A on a test, or time for a coffee date. And so on. However, I have also since rediscovered that energy put toward something - and not all 'somethings' for that matter- necessarily encourages a positive outcome. One can still actualize the 'goal,' or rather the 'anti-goal.' I define 'anti-goal' as a goal with a negative twist. Self-assured statements that usually start with 'I will never...' or 'I am completely avoiding...' this kinda thing goes along with Murphy's Law; 'Anything that can go wrong will.' or 'careful what you wish for.' The easiest way to explain this idea: you have a thought. In this analogy let's say your thought is to never eat 'fast food.' then you get called out on an emergency road trip, late at night, without having a chance to eat and all that's open are drive-thrus. It's either 'fast food' or starve. In some cases, one's will is strong enough to pull through and 'stick to our guns' (note to self: research origination of that catch phrase). But most athletic gyms with a membership will agree that the majority of us suck at follow through when things get a little tough. Some examples of anti-goal realization from my life:I will never smoke! Anything. Ever! Failed miserably in college. Smoked a lot of things in the last ten years. I won't drink til I'm 21! Managed to make it to 20.75... And still love a good beverage at the end of a hard day.I don't want to ever get married! It's just the governments way of getting involved in every aspect of our lives! Met a guy. Lived together for a while. Got married. Still married. Still living together. Still happy. (I don't call him my husband very often though. That word is associated with breeding sheep!)I will never have kids. But I'll be the coolest aunt ever!None of my sisters have kids. I'm the only one. So far. I can still be the coolest aunt someday!I will NEVER live in Oklahoma! *cough* see where I'm going here?Most things I said Never to have actualized. Once I realized this trend, I decided it was time to change the way I spoke. I now do my best to say, I would prefer to live in Oregon, or England. Maybe we'll have one more kid. I would like to raise chickens, eat a more vegetarian diet, let my daughter decide if she wants to smoke instead of forcing her to do it second hand. Things like that.What are some ways you have be motivationally creative with yourself?