Playful Rooted

Ben’s sweet mama was here over the weekend, and she watched the kids while Ben and I went and had coffee one morning. Alone, together….that hasn’t happened since Sawyer was born! We talked about our drinks, reminisced, discussed our short- and long-term goals, and planned some FUN things we’re looking forward to. No kid talk. It was awesome.

Ben went to the bathroom at one point during our date, and I was alone with my phone. Before, I would have picked it up, opened Instagram, and scrolled through. I would have seen posts from my friends sharing photos of their kids or their outfits. I would have seen posts from strangers sharing parenting tips or recipes. I also might have seen some other stuff. Some divisive political opinions, some pandemic updates, some posts on social unrest or human trafficking or other things that make my stomach turn or cause me to feel fear or worry over things I can’t control. I have friends and (used to) follow people from all social and political backgrounds, which I think is so valuable, but it can also be really intense.

So,

it could have been a good five minutes of scrolling. I might have gotten some great ideas for new things I want to try.

Or,

it could have been a bad five minutes of scrolling. I might have read some things that would leave me feeling uneasy or guilty or depleted.

Instead,

I spent those five minutes in mindfulness. I did a mini-meditation. I took deep breaths in through my nose and felt my stomach expand and my chest rise. I sat up tall and felt the weight of my sitz bones on the booth beneath me. I listened to the coffee grinder and the chatter of people talking around me. I tasted my coffee.

It was awesome.

I knew leaving social media behind was the right move, but I suspected I would miss certain parts of it. As it turns out…

I don’t.

xo!