Week One. Complete.
My first week without social media was a success and surprisingly productive, filled with both old and new hobbies I am absolutely loving. I didn’t spend my time wondering what others were doing, I didn’t long for updates from the many influencers I follow, and I certainly enjoyed trialing newfound interests. Last weekend I found a local organic farm that sells their vegetables every Saturday morning so I was excited to see what they had to offer. As I looked at my GPS along the drive, it seemed we were approaching our destination but to be honest, it didn’t look like we were in the right area at all. Soon enough, I spotted a small handmade sign with an arrow pointing to a parking lot off the beaten path. There it was, a small folding table with the fruits of their labor displayed proudly.
As we approached the owner of the establishment, she couldn’t help but smile and spout off all the wonderful things she had for sale that morning. She guided us to the mushrooms she had, opening each container one-by-one showing us the intricacies of each mushroom. She told us how to properly cook each type of and what it paired best with, we could see the passion for the farm pouring out of her. Once she opened the first container of mushrooms, I was sold instantly. Plump organic mushrooms that almost resembled a bouquet of flowers, they looked immaculate. Then, she sent us to look at the artisan breads she had from a local baker, she told us the story behind each loaf and raved about how delicious they are. Erik and I sat gazing at the beautifully crafted bread, how could we decide which one to get? We ended up purchasing two loaves of ciabatta, one garlic and the other rosemary with green olives. I would love to lie and say we didn’t eat both loaves in two days but they were just too good to savor.
After returning from the market, my Saturday afternoon was spent sourcing materials for a couple crafting projects I have had on my mind. I ventured out to a couple thrift stores in the area to see if I could limit my spending. I’ve found that crafting stores like Michael’s or Hobby Lobby charge an arm and a leg for one piece of fabric so I figured thrifting was my best option. There have to be tons of people like me, wanting to get into a particular craft, buying all the supplies in one trip, then losing interest a couple months later not knowing what to do with everything. It all ends up in the same place, donation centers.
I hit the jackpot! I purchased needles for knitting, five full skeins of yarn, stuffing, more pots for my plants, scrap material, and more, for thirty dollars! Most of the time, one pot at the hardware store can cost that much so I was thrilled. I know what you’re thinking, what is she going to do with all of this stuff? Well, the easiest answer is shower my three beautiful nieces and nephews with handmade gifts. I have a couple projects on my mind that are in the works but I cannot wait to see how they turn out.
Lastly, I started writing short fictional stories as they come streaming through my head. Laying in bed one evening, I closed my eyes to fall asleep, my mind started generating a storyline as soon as my eyelids closed. A character started forming, each word coming through so clearly I was forced to open my eyes and jot it down on my phone. That one story was Pandora’s box, they kept coming, each day something new. I would sit down and allow my fingers to strike the keyboard without thinking twice about it, pouring the intricacies of the story onto the page. I honestly don’t remember enjoying the process of writing the way I am right now, but it has lit a fire within me. I was once a girl with very few hobbies, now turning into a knitting, sewing, writing machine. If someone told me this a couple weeks ago, I would’ve laughed because I’m not a hobby kind of girl. Look at me now!
After the first week, I glanced in my settings to check the most recent screen time report. With each hobby keeping me busier than the next I decreased the time spent on my phone by 58% so far! In total I am spending roughly an hour and fifteen minutes on my phone per day and a solid portion of that is due to work calls. I am thrilled with the progress I am making and the new interests I have found, I cannot wait to see what lies ahead.
“Doing what you love is the cornerstone of having abundance in your life.”
– Wayne Dyer
