March 6, 2020

My screentime has increased significantly since my accident, yet sense of attachment to digital devices, outcomes and stimuli has all but disappeared. Spending long days and sleepless nights in bed, at home and between doctors’ offices for months on end has meant ample solo time. Yes, I’ve read books (though audiobooks are my go-to, housed in my… digital library), created art (which I like to accompany with music, played from my… digital stereo), meditated (often guided by a… digital app), prepared meals, and attempted to sleep, but the bulk of my time has been spent writing (in the Evernote app on either on my computer or phone), communicating with friends (via text or WhatsApp), and reading articles online, researching who-knows-what, scrolling feeds or not, perusing random videos, or watching TV shows and movies, once my eyes could handle looking at screens — though they were on the dimmest setting for many months, when my injured eyes were hyper sensitive. While I certainly spend far more time on my iPhone and laptop now than ever before, I am not attached or beholden to feedback, likes, comments on what I put out into the digital ethers, only occasionally reading that which is not directly addressed to me in a personal inbox. It is liberating to be able to engage on my terms, to write, to read, to search, to communicate, and also not to check news alerts, inbox counts or social media platforms for extended periods, sometimes even days, if that is what my mind feels inclined towards, needs or mandates. To not feel compelled to so much as glance at or even know where my phone is for extended periods of time is a blessed change of pace. And with that… Shabbat Shalom. ✌🏽