Big Green Pen

Paula's Perspicacity

  • Home
  • About Me
You are here: Home / Reflections / Take off your watch, put down the phone

May 29, 2022

Take off your watch, put down the phone

Take off your watch, put down the phone

HEAL

My husband and I went to my sister-in-law’s house today for a Memorial Day weekend get-together.

Their house is our usual extended family go-to, because of its pool, grilling setup, and my sister-in-law’s and brother-in-law’s unfailing hospitality.

The pandemic put a damper on all of our usual holiday weekend get-togethers. Although we have seen each other and even gotten together in the past two-plus years, today was the first true summertime, perfect weather, cold slushy drinks, great food on the grill and cool water in the pool kind of day.

Once I finally got set up on a lounge chair, I tried to take one typical “by-the-pool, drink in hand” picture. I would share it here, but it didn’t turn out well. It didn’t take long for me to decide my phone needed to be inside where it wouldn’t overheat. When I took it inside, I took my Fitbit (which functions as my watch) too.

And over the next several hours, I didn’t compulsively check my messages and took no pictures. I just enjoyed the fresh air, time with my family, some drinks and snacks, knowing that this weekend is a time for relaxation but also deep reverence for those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

Even though the pool and all of that time was a delight, the best period of time was the stretch of minutes I spent holding my newest great-nephew, who I just met today and who is four months old. He’s simply perfect, as all new babies are. Squishy, smiley, utterly innocent.

There’s so much healing needed in our world, in our country, in our individual lives right now. I’m not sure if holding an infant healed something specific, but it certainly reminded me that some of life’s sweetest, most restorative moments aren’t measured by a watch or camera.

**Note: I forgot to turn my timer on. Maybe it took three minutes to write this; maybe it took seven. I’ll never know!**

Welcome to this week’s Five Minute Friday. Our instructions, via coordinator Kate Motaung: “Write for five minutes on the word of the week. This is meant to be a free write, which means: no editing, no over-thinking, no worrying about perfect grammar or punctuation.” (But I can’t resist spell checking, as you can imagine.)

Take off your watch, put down the phone
Paula Kiger
Paula Kiger

Wife of one, Mom of two, Friend of many. My pronouns are she/her/hers.

Filed Under: Reflections

Previous Post: « I don’t know how to organize this
Next Post: Too chicken to take the bus »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Velva says

    May 30, 2022 at 7:44 am

    Children have a special way to remind us of what is good and right about the world. I know when I am with my grandchild, I am fully present. In todays world of mindless scrolling, frequent checks of email, etc. this feeling of being being fully present is rare, and I love it!
    Congratulations on your new great nephew.

    Reply
    • Paula Kiger (Big Green Pen) says

      May 30, 2022 at 9:26 pm

      Yes, that’s exactly it!

      Reply
  2. dawnfanshawe says

    May 30, 2022 at 1:38 pm

    Thank you, Paula. It sounds blissful. The best in life is all in moments like those.

    Reply
    • Paula Kiger (Big Green Pen) says

      May 30, 2022 at 9:27 pm

      So very true. Thanks for stopping by.

      Reply
  3. Carol Cassara (@ccassara) says

    May 31, 2022 at 10:28 am

    Unplugging. What a necessity, especially these days.

    Reply
    • Paula Kiger (Big Green Pen) says

      May 31, 2022 at 12:16 pm

      And I am truly terrible at it. I guess it still has to do with technology, since I put my phone inside to keep it from overheating!

      Reply
  4. Diane Tolley says

    May 31, 2022 at 11:03 am

    Unplug and hold a baby. Works for me!

    Reply
    • Paula Kiger (Big Green Pen) says

      May 31, 2022 at 12:18 pm

      Seriously. Sign me up for more baby holding.

      Reply
  5. Laurie Stone says

    May 31, 2022 at 1:24 pm

    I wish I could rent a baby somewhere. I sure could use one!

    Reply
    • Paula Kiger (Big Green Pen) says

      May 31, 2022 at 2:12 pm

      You and me both, Laurie!

      Reply
  6. Lauren says

    June 1, 2022 at 10:11 am

    I try too live in the moment and put my phone away too. In fact I sometimes do it so much that I don’t have a pic when needed or to remember the day.

    Reply
    • Paula Kiger (Big Green Pen) says

      June 1, 2022 at 10:13 am

      Ha yes I understand that conundrum!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Need Help Finding Something?

Let’s Connect!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
Paula Kiger

Subscribe to Big Green Pen!

Sign up to get every new post delivered right to your inbox!


 

FYI

Find Your Influence

Copyright © 2023 Paula Kiger · Maintained By AGW Knapper