I don't want to be a surfer. Not a surfer in the traditional sense, as in one who wears a swim suit, catches gnarly waves and has as awesome tan. No, I'm talking about "surfer" in the sense of one who surfs technology: FB, Instagram, Hulu, Netfllix, news sites, pinterest. You name it, this kind of surfer surfs it. I don't want to be that kind of surfer. Well, let's say I don't want to be that kind of surfer anymore, because confession--I've been one. But, I've discovered that there is a deep level of passivity that accompanies this type of surfing, as well as a general lack of intentionality. One who surfs in this way doesn't truly have a destination, but rather floats along the endless waves of social media feeds not ever being carried anywhere, but more and more nowhere. In doing this one loses minutes, hours and eventually precious days of ones life. Truly tragic when you think about it. Yet, how many of us have done it (do it...)?
I think it begs the quesiton, where are we going? Intentionality. Who are we and what are we about? Are we going to be passive people who have no destination in life and are simply content to allow the waves of social media, movies, and news to rule our lives and become our norm, or are we going to wake up out of our stupor, stop surfing, and start truly living. This might mean striving to use our former "surfing" platforms more intentionally, like getting on pinterest only when you have a specific project or recipe you need to retrive, or getting on FB to send a specific person a message and then getting off, or reading the news for certain information about an event and stopping when you're finished, and possibly only getting on Hulu if you know exactly what you want to watch. It also might mean abandoning these social media outlets altogether *gasp*. Maybe you need to get off FB or Instagram and cancel Hulu or Netflix for the month. STOP SURFING.
All of these things are ultimately a distraction from real life, in my opinion, and surfing just happens to be the worst systemic reality of this truth. We're all miserably distracted and continue to seek more and more ways to fracture our attention into a million little news feed waves and surf our days away. But, I'm tired of it; I'm tired of surfing. I don't want to be distracted anymore. I'm tired of living in stupor of what's happening in everyone eles's life and world, but not fully being grateful for paying attention to what's in mine. I want to live my life. And I want to live it intentionally, every moment. I want to go after life with such a vigor that I have no regrets. I don't want to be a surfer.
Sunday, June 25, 2017
Sunday, May 14, 2017
All Things Northern
It will be two years in September since I moved to the "north country". And it hasn't been a terrible two years; I've liked it in fact. This reality might shock some of my southern friends, and in some ways it shocks me. I mean, for how brutal the winters are, you'd think I loath it, but I don't. In truth, it's kind of been a great adventure. Not only can I now say I've lived through some of the coldest winters in the world (not joking--it gets colder here than Alaska and gets close to being as cold as Russia). But, I can also say I now have a deeper awareness and appreciation of seasons and their beautiful and distinct changes and the nuances that accompany each shift.
Working at the Montessori school has definitely enhanced this awareness and appreciation. Even though she's been my co-teacher, Miss Shelly has been every bit as much my teacher as my contemporary. I've learned about coniferous vs. deciduous trees, perennial vs. annual plants, the definition of viviperous animals, or mammals ("mammals are born alive!") and oviperous animals ("they hatch from eggs"). It's amazing what you can remember from a children's song. Speaking of annual trees and seasons, there's an annual tree just outside our classroom window that was almost like the embodiment of the seasons. I would watch it out the basement window nearly everyday during restime, clinging to its swaying branches for some semblance of sanity and quiet amidst the squirmy, noisy kindergarteners who were all trying to "rest." The tree was a marker of the seasons: aflame with bronze and golden leaves in fall, before dropping each one meticulously until it was bare and snow-covered in the dead of winter, and tentatively budding with new life, then exploding into a profusion of bright purple blossoms in spring, settling into a beautiful and determined vibrant summer green that eventually faded into a late summer hue of a dusky green.
It's truly a totally different way of life up here, a way of life I never knew nor had ever experienced. Some things I have observed that seem distinctly "northern" are...
"Hot dish," not to be confused with casserole
Sayings like: "oh for cute" or "would youe ever.." or maybe more Minnesota: "oofda" & "youbetcha!"
Having a certain obession with hockey.
Chain restaurants faring much better than ethnic cuisine because it seems northerns prefer "simple" food.
Rollerblading as an actual pastime, and not just for children.
Wide-spread use of tanning beds and heavy make-up. Well, when you don't see the sun for 8 months out of the year...
Hard-working, practical and loving people. There's truly nothing like northerners. They are their own breed. But, they're a good breed, and I like them.
Auto starts for your car, because who wants to get in a cold car when it's -50, not this girl! Thanks husband.
Block heaters to plug in your car during the winter months, so your car battery doesn't freeze. Yep, that's a real thing.
Everyone "goes to the lake" on the weekends as soon as it's above 50 degrees, because locals know time is limited!
"Winter survival car kits" are not only not a joke, they are necessary if you ever get stuck in winter. No kidding. My Bible study ladies made one for me my first winter, and I needed it.
A general GET OUTSIDE as soon as it's above 50 and sunny because no one knows how long it will last. I will say, when you live through these brutal winters, it gives you a whole new appreciation for Spring and Summer and in general sun and warmth. it's a real thing.
There are many more things, and this list is by no means exhaustive, but it's the beginning of me actually recording my experiences in the "Great White North." So, here's to more adventuring, and the recording of them.
Working at the Montessori school has definitely enhanced this awareness and appreciation. Even though she's been my co-teacher, Miss Shelly has been every bit as much my teacher as my contemporary. I've learned about coniferous vs. deciduous trees, perennial vs. annual plants, the definition of viviperous animals, or mammals ("mammals are born alive!") and oviperous animals ("they hatch from eggs"). It's amazing what you can remember from a children's song. Speaking of annual trees and seasons, there's an annual tree just outside our classroom window that was almost like the embodiment of the seasons. I would watch it out the basement window nearly everyday during restime, clinging to its swaying branches for some semblance of sanity and quiet amidst the squirmy, noisy kindergarteners who were all trying to "rest." The tree was a marker of the seasons: aflame with bronze and golden leaves in fall, before dropping each one meticulously until it was bare and snow-covered in the dead of winter, and tentatively budding with new life, then exploding into a profusion of bright purple blossoms in spring, settling into a beautiful and determined vibrant summer green that eventually faded into a late summer hue of a dusky green.
It's truly a totally different way of life up here, a way of life I never knew nor had ever experienced. Some things I have observed that seem distinctly "northern" are...
"Hot dish," not to be confused with casserole
Sayings like: "oh for cute" or "would youe ever.." or maybe more Minnesota: "oofda" & "youbetcha!"
Having a certain obession with hockey.
Chain restaurants faring much better than ethnic cuisine because it seems northerns prefer "simple" food.
Rollerblading as an actual pastime, and not just for children.
Wide-spread use of tanning beds and heavy make-up. Well, when you don't see the sun for 8 months out of the year...
Hard-working, practical and loving people. There's truly nothing like northerners. They are their own breed. But, they're a good breed, and I like them.
Auto starts for your car, because who wants to get in a cold car when it's -50, not this girl! Thanks husband.
Block heaters to plug in your car during the winter months, so your car battery doesn't freeze. Yep, that's a real thing.
Everyone "goes to the lake" on the weekends as soon as it's above 50 degrees, because locals know time is limited!
"Winter survival car kits" are not only not a joke, they are necessary if you ever get stuck in winter. No kidding. My Bible study ladies made one for me my first winter, and I needed it.
A general GET OUTSIDE as soon as it's above 50 and sunny because no one knows how long it will last. I will say, when you live through these brutal winters, it gives you a whole new appreciation for Spring and Summer and in general sun and warmth. it's a real thing.
There are many more things, and this list is by no means exhaustive, but it's the beginning of me actually recording my experiences in the "Great White North." So, here's to more adventuring, and the recording of them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)