THE 3 HOUR DISAPPEAR

Welcome to my Monday Morning Message

I love to tape positive sayings, quotes, and bits of wisdom all over my office mirror and walls.

The newest one I hung up is called 10 Things to Reset Your Life.

When I printed it and stuck it on the wall, I thought, “Wow, this is a great list. I am going to do all 10 things and see if they work.”

Number one is:

The 3-hour disappear. Once a week, go somewhere alone for three hours. No phone. No book. No people. Most people have never done this even once. This is where you start hearing yourself again.

Honestly, now that I have made this commitment to myself, #1 sounds mildly terrifying. Like a silent retreat and a hostage situation had a baby.

Three hours. Alone. No phone. No texting, no emails, Instagram, the NYT, or whether someone liked something I posted.

I have been alone plenty of times. But alone with my phone nearby is not really alone.

But what happens if we let our minds wander? Maybe we remember something important. Maybe a solution appears that could not get through all the noise.

Maybe we get bored, and then curious or excited by an idea.

I think we have become so used to being stimulated that stillness can feel like a problem to solve.

But what if stillness is where we finally hear ourselves?

So this week, I am going to try it.

I am going to sit on the beach. Three hours. No phone. No agenda.

I may have a breakthrough. Or I may just stare at the waves.

Maybe you would like to try it too. You can start with 20 minutes. Or an hour. You decide.

If you do, email me back and let me know what you discover. I would love to hear.

Have a wonderful week, Colette