Went on a much needed vacation this week. I went to New Mexico and Arizona, Grand Canyon and other places of interest. It was a great get away with my extended family. Did a lot of hiking, which my feet and legs reminded me I have not done in a very long time!

However, I had a disconcerting occurrence that took me a full three days to get a grip on. I was, pretty much, completely unplugged. Disconnected from the electronic world. No cell signal, no WiFi, nothing!

The first two days I was in a bit of a panic. Not having access to business email to just check up on how things were going made me very uncomfortable. Not being able to post devotional updates or look up information on the places we were seeing made me feel like I was missing out.

Then, something started to happen on day three; I began to not care as much and not check as much to see if I could get connected. By day four I had pretty much quit picking up my devices all together. By day five as we began our return trip I began dreading getting back online. Knowing that it would be a crush of email and other “digital” requirements.

I was amazed that it took a full three days for me to unplug.

I was amazed just how much I depend (read addicted to) on my electronics.

I was amazed at how totally relaxed being unplugged and disconnected made me feel.

I now recognize the amount of angst in my life created by my electronic devices. I began to realize that a lot of my tension comes from feeling this … need to check in. To be “in contact” with my electronic world. So much so that I now recognize that it completely drives the majority of my life. My moments of being unplugged are only when I am on the bikes. Even there I now have a Bluetooth device in my helmet that allows me to take a call.

Why?

After a week away, really unplugged and taking time for my family I am more relaxed than I can remember. I now realize the need to take time fully “off” and most importantly “off-line”.

I am seeing a greater and greater need for us to get unplugged. To get back to the basics and not feel the constant draw of our electronic masters. To allow our heads to be unwired and open to the broader world around us.

This is not a real epiphany. I think, down deep, we all feel this need. But we are so conditioned to be drawn back into our electronic worlds that our physical world begins to not just take a back seat but become fully secondary.

I had this happen once before when I went on a week long retreat alone. I realized then (well before the current electronic era) how desensitized I had become to the marketing chatter that continually invades our lives. I literally felt assailed when I returned.

The world is conditioning us to be addicted to everything that leads us away from ourselves. Things that keep us from recognizing who and what we are deep inside. To keep in touch with our inner selves, the spiritual and physiological needs we have that have nothing to do with our electronic lives. The need to connect with ourselves and others.