Find Your Middle Ground

Haiku – devises

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macbook pro iphone cup desk
Photo by Life Of Pix on Pexels.com

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Find your Middle Ground

Switch off all your devises

Come home to yourself

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I wrote this haiku a while ago and it hit home. It was definitely a message for me to listen to. This is such a simple and practical idea, but putting down our devises isn’t so easy.

I have been experimenting with less online activities, including blogging. There is so much coming at me and trying to grab my attention. It takes me out of balance and out of my Middle Ground.

Technology allows us to connect to hundreds of people in any one day. Not long ago, we were reliant on physical contact, phone calls and mail. And yes – we had to go out to meet people and shop in stores.

Of course, having the smartphone within hands reach has become a habit. I used to leave it in the kitchen while I was in my office, only to find that companies wanted to text me with security codes and confirmations.

Are my devises running my life now? Could I function without the apps on my phone?
The answer is probably…..

What I am doing is being more and more aware of how these devises seem to be taking over my time and energy.  It is up to me to be able to switch off.
Right now I don’t take my phone to the bedroom and switch it off when I teach or practice yoga. That’s my true Middle Ground time.

Without external distractions, we can come home to ourselves.
When we come home to ourselves we no longer feel so distracted, separate and lost in the world.

34 responses to “Haiku – devises”

  1. derrickjknight Avatar
    derrickjknight

    Salutary post

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thanks Derrick 💛

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  2. Jill Weatherholt Avatar
    Jill Weatherholt

    I’m so with you, Val. I’m done with people who keep their noses in their phones!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thank you Jill 💛 People are showing up for yoga with stiff necks and shoulders … its a side affect of all the hunching forward. Its going to be a physical hazard as well as a mental disturbance.

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. Jill Weatherholt Avatar
        Jill Weatherholt

        I agree! I don’t think people realize this. And parents are buying phones for their children.

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
  3. Louise Gallagher Avatar
    Louise Gallagher

    Great post Val — and observations.

    I use my phone as my camera. Everyday I take it with me when I walk with Beaumont — and keep it on silent. But I always know it’s there. So… I am leaving it at home more and more. My walks are so much more enjoyable when I am not distracted by my phone’s presence!

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Love that awareness Louise 💕 Just its presence can detract from our experience.

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  4. IreneDesign2011 Avatar
    IreneDesign2011

    Oh, I do agree so much, Val.
    Our devises are taking over our attention, if we don’t conscious cut them of by ourselves.
    I try to make a routing in my daily life, where I close my PC and only answer the mobile, if necessary. Otherwise I can call back later.

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thank you Irene.💛 It has become a much need practice to turn off our devises to keep our balance.

      Liked by 1 person

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  5. Ali Grimshaw Avatar
    Ali Grimshaw

    Val, this is a valuable reflection question, “Are my devises running my life now?” I would also add this one, How are my devices supporting me in living the life I want to live? Thanks for your ongoing thoughts and intentions.

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Great question Ali. Thank you for adding to the reflection. 🙏

      Liked by 1 person

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  6. AmyRose🌹 Avatar
    AmyRose🌹

    My true middle ground, Val, is when I am out in a forest or in the gym. I have my phone OFF. Or if I am out in the forest and want to take pictures with my cell, I have it on airplane mode. I also leave my cell in one place in our house and barely do I touch it. I’m realizing as life’s challenges turns up a notch or two or three, I tend to gravitate to the TV. That’s my vice and I’m right now trying to break it. And here I am on WP. *sigh* It’s just been a pretty emotional couple of weeks …… And I really am trying my best. I don’t want my devices to run my life ….. but I must ask ARE THEY?

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thank you for sharing here Amy … and for the awareness you bring to us all. 💕

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. AmyRose🌹 Avatar
        AmyRose🌹

        You are welcome, Val. Bless you! xo

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  7. Vicki Avatar
    Vicki

    I don’t have a smartphone at all, Val, and it’s so mentally liberating. Only trouble is that I still receive the occasional text message on my old-fashioned mobile phone and I find the intrusion annoying.

    I don’t have ‘apps’ either. I don’t have internet access when outdoors away from my iMac which suits me just fine.

    I use the computer every day at various times, but have now mostly refused to turn it back on in the evening, preferring the absence of modern technology.

    It may be annoying to some people, but I quite like being ‘unreachable’ at various time during the day. I quite like the silence and calm of ‘not knowing’ what I’m missing.

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Love this Vicki ❣️

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. nrhatch Avatar
        nrhatch

        I’m right there with Vicki. I’m only connected when I’m at my desk in front of my mac. When I’m out and about, I am off-line and at ease.

        Liked by 2 people

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        1. Val Boyko Avatar
          Val Boyko

          Aahh …. that sounds better 💕😉

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply
  8. Mark Lanesbury Avatar
    Mark Lanesbury

    I look back when a phone was on a stand or wall inside the home, permanently fixed to that life inside and no where else.
    These days we bip, play a tune or run into traffic each step we take.
    Sigh…those were the days Val 🙄

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Waiting for the phone call and not being able to go out was a toughy!

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. Mark Lanesbury Avatar
        Mark Lanesbury

        True…so there’s the rub, and like all else…find that balance 😀

        Liked by 1 person

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  9. Live & Learn Avatar
    Live & Learn

    You say:”smartphone within hands reach has become a habit.” I say, I wish it was only that and not an addiction.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Crossing the line from habit to addiction is all too easy. Saying “I am an addict” is also a powerful step towards taking back control. Thank you David 💛

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  10. lorriebowden Avatar
    lorriebowden

    I get it, Val! I took a teeny break over the Thanksgiving holiday…and I really took notice at how many times I reached for the phone and then had to stop myself. What a habit it has become. There is so much connected to the phone…it almost seems impossible to detach completely.
    Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Here’s to taking the breaks we need!
    ❤

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Hear hear Lorrie. Thank you for sharing 💕

      Liked by 1 person

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  11. sloppy buddhist Avatar
    sloppy buddhist

    Om have a peaceful day Val ☺️💫

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Shanti shanti Hedy 💕

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  12. Jennifer Kelland Perry Avatar
    Jennifer Kelland Perry

    This is advice I should be heeding, Val. Maybe I can make it my New Year’s resolution to turn off the smart phone more often.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Setting aside one day a week would be pretty awesome! I am tempted Jennifer 💛

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. Jennifer Kelland Perry Avatar
        Jennifer Kelland Perry

        Me too. 😊

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  13. Jim Borden Avatar
    Jim Borden

    The line has blurred for me as to whether the technology is a must have, or a nice to have…

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      I hear you Jim. 💛

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  14. Pazlo Avatar
    Pazlo

    A couple of times a year we head for the lake. It is in the High Peaks Region of The Adirondack Park, one of the largest intact tracts of old growth forest in the world.
    It is a welcome refuge, devoid of cell towers or signal. It is a time machine that takes me back before nifty and convenient electronics became a burden.
    Incommunicado. Truly off the grid.
    It is the highlight, and the most peaceful break of my year.

    “Haven’t you learned this already?
    Those things are not real.
    The trail, the rain, the trees, me, these are real.
    Ditch that other stuff.”

    – Chuy The Wonderdog

    Seek peace,

    Paz

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thank you Paz. May you be peace 🙏

      Liked by 1 person

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I’d love to hear from you …

● About Me

My name is Val Boyko, a dual citizen living near Philadelphia, originally from Scotland.

This blog came to life one morning in 2013.  I woke up with these words in my mind:  “Life is a series of highs and lows. Be grateful for the highs. Be graceful in the lows. And find contentment in your Middle Ground.”

Find Your Middle Ground blog started to explore, reflect, ask deep questions, share insights about awakening, and connect with wonderful people like yourself. Thank you for being here and being such an inspiration.

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