So I read that book by Cal Newport about Deep Work and the toxicity of interruption and I gave up Facebook and wrote a blog about notifications.
But I am not stupid (not so stupid anyway) so I understand that it’s impossible to live in a world without nuclear weapons because now they have been invented and it’s impossible to live without technology because now it’s been invented too.
So my quest going forward is to use technology as a tool to enhance and improve my life, not to rule it or to ruin it, and today was a perfect example of striking the balance of doing that which I have been unable to strike consistently over the last five years.
The photo on this blog is Isla (my dog) and it’s the 8th April and we’re walking on the beach in Northumberland, just the two of us. It’s the clearest day I can ever remember and there literally is not a cloud in the sky. Little waves are crashing and the sound is beautiful. There are seagulls and dogs walking and I am about as happy as it’s possible for me to get.
I have seven blogs I need to do so that there are enough to see me through the holidays and I’m walking on the beach with my Dictaphone as my thoughts run wild, writing the things I like to talk about on the ridiculous blog that I write for no reason.
If I was an author that got paid for writing books I would move to the beach, I could write a million books here but no one wants to read my books, not yet anyway and I’m not in the business of monetising my blog (the dog just sat down in a stream drinking sea water by the way!)
But the blog is really important to me, as I’ve said before, and it has taken me to places I could never have imagined and I think will continue to do that – two more introductions to speak at places I would have never been able to speak at if it wasn’t for the blog that I’ve accepted this week. So I will continue to write it and continue to deliver this stream of consciousness which acts as a diary to myself but I’ll continue to do it by dictating it whilst sometimes being on a beach with a ball and a dog.
I’ll stop now because I’d like to walk in silence or listen to my book (another way I like to use technology to my advantage)
Happy holidays!
Blog Post Number - 1251
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