Live Life..Don't Just Read About It

I've been thinking a lot lately about living life. You know, actually getting out there and creating a life instead of just letting life slip by. I want to look back at my life when I'm old and gray and see that I actively participated in my life and in the world around me. I don't want to look back and see that I was a constant audience member, always watching the performance but never actually getting on the stage.

I've been thinking about this because I've been recognizing that I have a slight addiction to media. And isn't it quaint that I just referred to it as a "slight" addiction. I'm not sure what qualifies as a slight addiction and when it just becomes a full-on addiction but for some reason I feel better if I can refer to it as just a slight addiction, just a teeny, tiny, little thing that isn't actually a problem.

The only problem, is that it is a problem. When it's to the point that I would rather read about or watch other people's real or fake lives than participate in my own...it's a problem. When I can sit and watch TV shows until an hour before I'm supposed to wake up the next day...it's a problem. When every time I find a spare moment I immediately log onto Facebook or get on the Internet...it's a problem. I'm even to the point where I'll log onto Facebook on my mobile device while I wait for the Internet on my computer to load...you know, because there's a few seconds where I might have to just sit and do nothing.

I finally told myself that my media use is a problem and may, just may, be an actual addiction (if only a slight one -insert grin- ). And I'm trying to break free of it, one small step at a time. Today is my first day and I seem to be doing better than I have in a long time. I organized my mobile device so that Facebook and the Internet are buried within a few folders, hopefully causing me to think before tapping them. I'm also trying to just not get on my device for any reason as often.

And it is going okay. I've been tempted several times today to log onto Facebook, but I haven't. I've wanted to mindlessly pick up and look at my device a lot, but I've very consciously put it away and paid attention to my daughter instead (imagine that). I've even gone to the bathroom several times today without looking at my device while in there, which significantly reduces the time that I spend in there. (I know, I know, TMI, bathrooms...eeeewww gross!)

And while that device has been safely nestled in my pocket I've actually had time to edit a chapter of my book today. I've had time to write this blog post. I've had time to have good conversations with my toddler and go on a fun scooter ride. I've had time to pick up my other kids from school and ask about their day. I've had time to live life.

One of my favorite YouTube videos is an oldie from Ben Does Life and I absolutely love it. And although Ben doesn't always live his mantra, I love his Do Life message. And I love how amazing it was to watch his life change once he stopped playing video games 24/7 and actually got out and participated in life. And although his video seems to be about losing weight, it's really about living life. It's really about enjoying the life that we have enough to actually live it.

So I know that it's only been one day of scaling back on my "slight" addiction but I'm really excited. I'm excited about the changes that have happened in just this one day. I'm excited to spend more time with my family fully engaged. I'm excited to actually live life. And I'm excited to get back on that stage! (I may even play the drums.)