I was sitting in a sunny window the other day and had a sudden flashback to pre-cell phone times. I forgot how I used to just sit around and think. It was so relaxing to feel that again for a moment. I want that back now.
Today i went for a little hike and was thinking about the exact same thing— it feels harder to live in the moment, and I’ve stopped doing so much of what I used to enjoy doing in my down time. I want to make the effort for more shamala hamala as well, your message today was perfectly timed. Thank you for sharing yourself!
Regaurding life before cellphones. My sister in law would do a whole week in May with no cellphones allowed at all. No computers or technology for the whole family for fun or social reasons. If your job requires you to use a computer at work than thats different. This challenge began 15 or 20 years ago. Including no tv, vcr, video games. How many think they could do it? An entire week! It was easier then, before smartphones where on us at all times.
In the before times I would just walk, often aimlessly, until I found a good place to sit. That good place usually being at the base, or in a tree overlooking the Rogue River. The act of meandering and sitting in nature really gave me peace when the rest of my life was not peaceful. Today I am sick on the couch and watching the Friends of Big Bear Valley Bald Eagle nest cam, it seems to be having a similar effect.
In the before times, I felt less stressed. Conversation happened between people who were looking at each other as they spoke. I grew up a “ latch key kid” in Brooklyn NY. I would sit on the “ stoop” and watch people walk by.. or wait for a friend to draw on the sidewalk with chalk. Using a phone was pretty involved. First off, it was not in my pocket! My phone was attached to a cord… attached to a wall. I lifted the receiver and dialed the first number… then waited for the dial to spin all the way back… to dial the second number.. etc… very methodical. The number's were stored in my head.. and I still remember my home phone number. I love those memories. Thank you for sharing with us Kevin .. and thank you for space to share back :-)
First, I loved the Andy Warhol museum when I went in the NINETIES after watching I Shot Andy Warhol in grad school. Loved the little moments not only of seeing his art but also reading bits of things he'd written. I was especially fascinated by all the things he kept, his relationship to objects. So much to think about after a visit there!
My brain...my brain is so full, so overfull anymore, and what I maybe miss most is what I can only think to call "the joy of not knowing," because when I didn't know something, I could instead wonder about it. I wouldn't even have to find an answer, but could be curious without end, the satisfaction coming from the curiosity itself and not a fact I can now find in five seconds on my phone.
Sometimes, when I can stop myself from picking my phone up the instant I feel restless about not having an answer, I can still experience the joy of not knowing, of wondering, of seeing what creativity might result when I let my mind wander from one thing to another instead of being compulsively driven to distraction.
This really hit home. It’s wild how much harder it feels now to just be — to sit quietly, to let your mind wander, to savor a moment without needing to document or optimize it. Thank you for putting words to that feeling and reminding us that simple, screen-free joy is still right there if we reach for it. So excited to see Shamala Hamala come to life — it already feels like something the world needs more of.
I used to do puzzles; I would draw - both trying to do something serious and doodle, and I used to read so much more back then. I would go to the library and the thrift store for books. I was a flight attendant so often when a book was finished (if it was a thrift book), we'd leave them in the jump seats for the next crew. All these require one to be present; one can't be obsessing over a video while also reading or drawing or doing a puzzle.
I recently started sharing stories with my son about life before technology. Before he was born, his father and I when we were friends and our early 20s would sit for talking random about life for hours listening to CDs in the 90s. We would take long drives to Los Angeles to get as many CDs as we could afford , then chill and listen to them. On Sundays, a few friends would gather at our house to listen to San Diego’s radio station 91X “Resurrection Sunday” , were they played obscure alternative music.
My son‘s father, my first husband, passed away when my son was five. My husband was 31 years old and it was very sudden and I miss him very much. He was the coolest guy, too many are lost too soon.
I recently met up with a friend I haven’t seen in a long time. We chose to meet at a location full of interesting art deco design and displays. I was so busy trying to figure out where I was and give play-by-play texts on my location and arrival times that I didn’t get a chance to look at any of the architecture and displays at the link up spot.
Pre-smart phone days, we would have just gotten to the location at the agreed upon time and just wait for the other to arrive. That 15-20 minute window of waiting, looking at details, people watching, anticipating. Existing.
I used to love talking with my Dad. He was much older than my mother, an artist and remembered Pearl Harbor. But he was also a beatnik, liked talking about ideas, art and music. He always asked a lot of questions to get me to think. He passed when I was in college, but there are some conversations and questions he asked me that I still find myself debating with him in the shower or if I'm walking. I still like long phone calls. Now I have them with my Grandmom who's a very feisty 96. "Nuanced" opinions, thoughts, questions and the ability to simply be honestly curious doesn't exist on the internet it seems. There's more homogeneity of thought, rage and click bait. I love this space you are creating.
I was sitting in a sunny window the other day and had a sudden flashback to pre-cell phone times. I forgot how I used to just sit around and think. It was so relaxing to feel that again for a moment. I want that back now.
Today i went for a little hike and was thinking about the exact same thing— it feels harder to live in the moment, and I’ve stopped doing so much of what I used to enjoy doing in my down time. I want to make the effort for more shamala hamala as well, your message today was perfectly timed. Thank you for sharing yourself!
Regaurding life before cellphones. My sister in law would do a whole week in May with no cellphones allowed at all. No computers or technology for the whole family for fun or social reasons. If your job requires you to use a computer at work than thats different. This challenge began 15 or 20 years ago. Including no tv, vcr, video games. How many think they could do it? An entire week! It was easier then, before smartphones where on us at all times.
In the before times I would just walk, often aimlessly, until I found a good place to sit. That good place usually being at the base, or in a tree overlooking the Rogue River. The act of meandering and sitting in nature really gave me peace when the rest of my life was not peaceful. Today I am sick on the couch and watching the Friends of Big Bear Valley Bald Eagle nest cam, it seems to be having a similar effect.
I'm so excited for your art space Kevin!
In the before times, I felt less stressed. Conversation happened between people who were looking at each other as they spoke. I grew up a “ latch key kid” in Brooklyn NY. I would sit on the “ stoop” and watch people walk by.. or wait for a friend to draw on the sidewalk with chalk. Using a phone was pretty involved. First off, it was not in my pocket! My phone was attached to a cord… attached to a wall. I lifted the receiver and dialed the first number… then waited for the dial to spin all the way back… to dial the second number.. etc… very methodical. The number's were stored in my head.. and I still remember my home phone number. I love those memories. Thank you for sharing with us Kevin .. and thank you for space to share back :-)
First, I loved the Andy Warhol museum when I went in the NINETIES after watching I Shot Andy Warhol in grad school. Loved the little moments not only of seeing his art but also reading bits of things he'd written. I was especially fascinated by all the things he kept, his relationship to objects. So much to think about after a visit there!
My brain...my brain is so full, so overfull anymore, and what I maybe miss most is what I can only think to call "the joy of not knowing," because when I didn't know something, I could instead wonder about it. I wouldn't even have to find an answer, but could be curious without end, the satisfaction coming from the curiosity itself and not a fact I can now find in five seconds on my phone.
Sometimes, when I can stop myself from picking my phone up the instant I feel restless about not having an answer, I can still experience the joy of not knowing, of wondering, of seeing what creativity might result when I let my mind wander from one thing to another instead of being compulsively driven to distraction.
Often this happens when I'm baking 🙂
This really hit home. It’s wild how much harder it feels now to just be — to sit quietly, to let your mind wander, to savor a moment without needing to document or optimize it. Thank you for putting words to that feeling and reminding us that simple, screen-free joy is still right there if we reach for it. So excited to see Shamala Hamala come to life — it already feels like something the world needs more of.
I used to do puzzles; I would draw - both trying to do something serious and doodle, and I used to read so much more back then. I would go to the library and the thrift store for books. I was a flight attendant so often when a book was finished (if it was a thrift book), we'd leave them in the jump seats for the next crew. All these require one to be present; one can't be obsessing over a video while also reading or drawing or doing a puzzle.
I recently started sharing stories with my son about life before technology. Before he was born, his father and I when we were friends and our early 20s would sit for talking random about life for hours listening to CDs in the 90s. We would take long drives to Los Angeles to get as many CDs as we could afford , then chill and listen to them. On Sundays, a few friends would gather at our house to listen to San Diego’s radio station 91X “Resurrection Sunday” , were they played obscure alternative music.
My son‘s father, my first husband, passed away when my son was five. My husband was 31 years old and it was very sudden and I miss him very much. He was the coolest guy, too many are lost too soon.
I recently met up with a friend I haven’t seen in a long time. We chose to meet at a location full of interesting art deco design and displays. I was so busy trying to figure out where I was and give play-by-play texts on my location and arrival times that I didn’t get a chance to look at any of the architecture and displays at the link up spot.
Pre-smart phone days, we would have just gotten to the location at the agreed upon time and just wait for the other to arrive. That 15-20 minute window of waiting, looking at details, people watching, anticipating. Existing.
I think part of it may be an effect of aging, too. 😕
I used to love talking with my Dad. He was much older than my mother, an artist and remembered Pearl Harbor. But he was also a beatnik, liked talking about ideas, art and music. He always asked a lot of questions to get me to think. He passed when I was in college, but there are some conversations and questions he asked me that I still find myself debating with him in the shower or if I'm walking. I still like long phone calls. Now I have them with my Grandmom who's a very feisty 96. "Nuanced" opinions, thoughts, questions and the ability to simply be honestly curious doesn't exist on the internet it seems. There's more homogeneity of thought, rage and click bait. I love this space you are creating.