Not too long ago I held a yard sale. Included in the sale were all my candle-making paraphanalia which included expensive melters, colors, wicks, and more; all my jewelry-making items that I'd collected over a number of years including catalogs, books, beads, wires, chests, etc.; cases of lotion bottles and stuff I can't even remember.

As I was putting all this together, I was wondering why I'd stopped creating. It was the computer! I realized how much time I spent on the computer, oftentimes doing very non-productive stuff such as responding NUMEROUS times to questions on a variety of forums; then Twitter came along and being that I have 3 Twitter profiles, I became addicted; then FaceBook and of course, there's email... I was amazed at how much time passed and, I got so little done!

After that major realization, I've decided to cut short my computer time. I pretty much stay off of forums other than my own on Bodacious Living; I use HootSuite to handle most of my communication although, when people respond to what I say, I do take time to acknowledge them moreso on Facebook than on Twitter now.

I'm more focused on my business, on my website and also, on getting OFF the computer entirely so I can spend time outside in the sun; down in the sunroom working out, meditating and reading.

Reading! Previous to the computer, I would have 5-6 books going at a time. The reason I got up and on the computer now was because I realized, I currently have 5 books going right now and just wanted to talk about it! Yayyy for me!

I think it's an interesting combination.

On top I've got "Believe It! Become It!" by Paula Noble Fellingham.

Next is "The Four Agreements" by Don Miguel Ruiz which I am currently re-reading and planning on creating a book study group on.

Following that is "How to Build a Million Dollar Database" by Michelle Bergquist which a friend had gotten from Michelle and shared with our Conscious Business Relationships Meetup group.

Below that is "The Deja Vu Enigma" by Marie D. Jones and Larry Flaxman. This book was sent to me by their publicist for review. It's quite fascinating.

Finally, another re-read "Ask and It Is Given" by Esther and Jerry Hicks.

So, instead of sitting at the computer or even watching HULU movies and episodes in the evening, when I'm not actually working, I'm working out, catching some rays (can actually do the two together), reading and/or going to see live music at the Coffee Gallery in the evenings.

I'm even preparing to do a poem during their "spoken word" evening.

I've found, since turning off my tv many years ago that I had much more time to be productive and creative. Now, I've turned off my computer for much of the day and found the same thing.

Technology has it's time and place ~ and not all the time and not every place.

Oh! Now that I mention "place", what a friend realized is that, during the open mic nights, people rarely take the time to prepare music anymore. They'll bring up some gadget ~ whether it's a blackberry or laptop ~ and look at that instead of the audience. People have lost touch with the humanizing connection they once had.

Enough for now ~

~ Revvell ~

As I'm re-reading "The Four Agreements ~ A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom", I got to the "it's not personal" section and he said (paraphrasing) how people impose their own world on yours. What I see is, people impose their "wants" and/or "needs" on others.

For instance, they may ask you a question about yourself. If you answer incorrectly, in their eyes, then you've lost something in their eyes. They WANT you to be the way they imagine you to be and if you're not, then you're not fulfilling how they WANT you to be in order to be "right".

They may be very religious and, perceiving you to be so because it seems you've got a great connection, and you say, no, I'm an atheist or I'm agnostic, or I'm not Christian, then, you've become smaller to them and possibly, even invisible.

If they perceive you to be ANY certain way and find out you're not, they become disillusioned, not realizing it's THEIR perception that is inaccurate, not you!

I've experienced myself with someone saying "... that's why I like you" when I've responded to a certain question; then they go one with what THEY understood me to say and it's not at all what I said.... OR, it IS what I've said and I feel I have to stay that way or, keep doing whatever it is, so they'll continue to like me ~ which can be very tiring because someone I may like, may not like me unless I do what THEY like! Can you see the debilitating cycle?

The best thing I've found (and, continue to find) is to be as honest as I can with me first ("be impeccable with my word"), then, if someone likes who I am, what I do, what I say (and, how I say it)... we'll connect. If they don't like all the above, then we wont.

Enough for now ~

Revvell

I'm currently re-reading "The Four Agreements ~ a Practical Guid to Personal Freedom " by Don Miguel Ruiz,  and realized this morning that I tend to be very conscious with what I say to others; being sure that I don't promise what I cannot deliver. I'm very care-filled with my husband, being sure to not say things ~ perform "black magic" ~ when angry with something I feel he's done...

Yet, I'm nowhere near as impeccable, or even conscious with my words to me! For instance, my plan at night may be to get up early and get on my bike for a ride yet, the next morning, I've got all the reasons for not doing so, even if I am up! "It's too cold, too dark, too early", etc. Or, I'm going to be more conscious about my food program yet, we're out and about and I hear the excuses ~ "I've been really 'good' all week"; "what if I die tomorrow, shouldn't I live today?", "I'll make up for it with a good workout tomorrow" (knowing that may not happen AND, it really doesn't make up for the damage eating poorly does in the long run.)

As with everything I do, to be impeccable with my word "should" begin with me. I've found if I treat myself right, I treat others right; if I am happy, I share happy; if I am feeling wealthy, I share feeling wealthy.

Like a pebble dropped in the water, it begins with me, so my mantra at this moment is "Be Impeccable With Your Word"... what's yours?

Enough for now,

Revvell