Gratitude Day 134: Off the Grid Five days this week I was off the grid. Tuned out, dropped in to a life before the internet and cell phones, before Facebook, twitter and Instagram. I still watched a little Television so I wasnt completely separated from society. It felt good to be disengaged except from my family and the friends we went with. It allowed me to be more connected with myself and my family as well as the families I was with. We went to Mexico (Cabo San Lucas) traveling with two other couples and their kids. It was a welcome decompression a great escape from the daily pressures and challenges at home. Beautiful accommodations, crystal turquoise to cobalt blue ocean with hypnotic waves crashing in every few seconds all day and night, good food and plenty of it, fun and interesting conversations, lost in a novel cover to cover and the pure joy of childrens laughter, energy and mischievousness bouncing off of all of us wherever we went. It is a trip that my kids will remember for a lifetime. Moments will be etched in my mind forever as well. Lisa and I celebrated our twelve year anniversary at EDITHS a renowned restaurant in Cabo and beyond. A delicious meal with exceptional ambiance, friendly and attentive staff and mucho talented Mariachi singers a perfect night all around. Hard to believe that a year ago I was forced to come up with a creative solution and send Lisa to THE CHART HOUSE with Lee the best man, Collete our maid of honor and Michelle Lisas good friend and wifey to celebrate our anniversary in absentia while I lay flat on my back Chemo flowing through my body. What a difference a year makes. I love medicine and the miracle it can work. Even though being plugged into the Medical grid was challenging and tortuous it saved my life. I love the internet with its connectability, the information and education it provides. There are times however when it is valuable, healthy and necessary to get off the grid and reconnect to flesh and blood, pen and paper, hand shakes and hugs, face to face, body to body connections that engage and enhance all of our real tactile senses and not just our imaginary dream senses stimulated by a two dimensional screen. Tasting, breathing, feeling, touching, smelling, hearing, seeing being totally enveloped in the scope of your immediate surroundings. Being off the grid allows your body to relax, re-group and reboot. I am going to plan a few times this year to GOTG deepening my connections pushing it even further focusing my attention on the earth, nature, my inner self and the relationship to others around me. One of the lessons I have learned over the last year and a few months is that to more deeply appreciate something is to voluntarily give it up or have it snatched away from you for a while. I am looking forward to some self imposed breaks in my life to bolster the appreciation for all that I have. with Lisa Campbell McCorkle
Posted on: Wed, 06 Aug 2014 16:43:22 +0000