Michelle Dry's Children's Books

Sometimes it is just worth switching everything off. The phone, the laptop and the endless digital noise that distracts us from being present.

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Before entering tier 4 lockdown I attempted a digital detox and realised how reliant I was on my phone. I ended up having to use it for Sat Nav… and got a bit of a withdrawal from checking the news. I know… It horrified me.

The time I spent without connection was spent in nature and was bliss. Yet, I still used my phone to take pictures. Why did I need to document and record where I was? Where had the need come from to always record my experience?

This then got me thinking about how we all record our experiences. How we all have been conditioned to document our experience and make it available to others.

While I wondered through spectacular scenery, I considered how most of us search for significance and demonstrate it by recording and sharing on social media. It has become our habit and our ‘norm’. It is funny when you think about it… Imagine squirrels taking selfies of every acorn acquiring escapade…

I do find humanity amusing, especially by stepping out and observing. Yet the time of quiet raised numerous questions… Like why do I have to do?

This came from being at a lovely hotel (before the current restrictions) on a rainy day. I felt as though I couldn’t just do nothing. I felt I had to get out there and experience and make the most of it.

Admittedly I had a phenomenal time when I did get out there, yet it disturbed me that I felt I had to.

This time of quiet has provided some real insight. It makes me wonder whether one can break the reliance. Can a person go off-grid anymore?

Are we all so conditioned and reliant on the digital that we can no longer live without it?

The time of quiet gave me the time to process life and consider without the endless distraction and interruption…

Yet something else bothered me… I felt guilt for not be accessible and answering emails and texts… Weird and something I need to look at…

I wonder if anyone else has experienced similar feelings when switching off… or do we just not dare to switch off anymore?

The link toMichelle Dry’s books on Amazon.co.uk:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Michelle-Dry/e/B07169SN2L/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1