Choices We Make

I heard something the other day that stopped me in my tracks.  "For all we read online in a year, we could have read hundreds of books--but we haven't read one!"  Even though I mostly read fiction, I believe reading books adds significantly to my life, stimulates my mind and furthers my education in literature and knowledge about life, humanity and the world.

Not to say we shouldn't read the basic news online.  And there's lots of interesting and educational information to be found online.  But how many of us read way more than what's necessary and good for us?  Most of us would agree, there's a lot that frustrates and stresses us online these days.  Consider the principle:  What you put out there is what you attract.  Is the other side:  What you choose to take in is a good indication of what your emotional attitude is going to be, whether lighthearted, positive and upbeat OR angry, hopeless and depressed.  Our skin is thin, we absorb.

We can't stick our heads in the sand, concern is good, but worrying doesn't change the outcome.  So, aside from reading unbiased (as possible) news, why don't we only follow online accounts that are funny, inspiring or just make us feel good?  Why don't we only follow people online who we actually like or add to our well-being? 

Links are rabbit holes.  I'm sure we've all looked up at the clock and realized we aren't even aware that time has passed or remember how we got to the site we're now on.  We can learn a lot from following links to study various subjects, but even doctors don't like us diving down medical rabbit holes.  How often is all that deep diving unproductive and time sucking? 

I guarantee if we refrain from unnecessary time online, we'll automatically find things to fill the time saved.  Like reading a book.  Or taking a class (some good ones online!), joining a group or volunteering.  And there's always just going outside, for a walk, to garden, to take photographs, or to just sit and appreciate the light and beauty.  Even quietude is preferable; being with your own thoughts for a while or mindlessly petting a dog is better for our peace of mind than more scrolling.

Many things require our time, but we also have choices.  And the choices we make can sometimes be the difference between feeling grounded or that life is out of our control.  I choose terra firma.

The End