“Hello darkness, my old friend / I’ve come to talk with you again” - Simon & Garfunkel
Saturday night, Brad and I got home from a long, busy day and decided to hang out on the back patio, because it was perfect outside. We got comfy, turned on some tunes, and just sat together, watching the sun disappear and the stars pop through the black sky above us. We were out there for hours - enjoying each other's company and, maybe most uniquely, sitting in silence. Drinking in the lyrics and feeling the emotions that came along with them.
It hit me: I haven't done this in ages. Yet, it used to be one of my favorite things to do. Seriously, core memory kind of stuff! These days, we are so busy-so plugged in - constantly attached to devices, reachable by everyone, all the time. Alone time isn't alone time anymore. Even when I'm by myself, I'm with the world: scrolling, texting, checking in.
However, there was a time when I would lie on my bedroom floor or outside under the stars with my Walkman (I am well aware I'm dating myself here), just listening. Getting lost in the music and letting my mind wander down whatever path the lyrics led me. There were no notifications to check, no feed to refresh, no pressure to be anywhere else.
Now, even though I still listen to a lot of the same music, it feels different. Familiar, yes - but also kind of like a time capsule. When I listen, I'm instantly taken back to a version of myself that feels like a lifetime ago. A simpler time when technology didn't have such a tight grip on everything. When relationships were a little more face-to-face and a lot less face-to-screen.
Saturday night reminded me I need this. I'm a better human when I allow myself to disconnect. When I let myself feel all the things and remember who I was before I got so "busy." It's not only about spending time with people in person - it is also about spending time with myself. Quietly. Intentionally.
Talk to me straight here: When was the last time you unplugged for a few hours? Not just setting the phone aside, but disconnecting - no texts, no social checks, no background TV. Just you, your thoughts, and maybe some music that makes you feel something.
What were the pastimes you used to love but don't really "get around to" anymore? The things that used to ground you, fill you up, and bring you peace. Let's talk about those things. Better yet, let's bring them back!
This world is only getting louder. And sometimes, the most human thing we can do is sit still, listen to a good song, and watch the stars come into view.
