What was the longest I was able to disconnect?
Good question ,and ,if you are expecting me to tell you that the state of my disconnect lasted days, the answer is no.
Hours, yes. One day I was away from the phone 6 hours, and that was the ultimate “best of the disconnect”. I tried to arm myself with the best arguments for putting the iPhone away: Mario, you are 70. Mario, you lived most of your life without a phone by your side, and you survived. Mario, there is nothing that urgent that it can’t wait.
I even gave up CNN watching. Ok, I confess that I tuned in a couple of times, but for short periods of time.
Along the way, a daily “fire” that needed to be put out, a request for Garcia Media information for prospective clients that I would be best to forward to one of our team to handle, the routine message from someone who is “considering a change of job and maybe you can guide me,” the student from a far away continent who “would like to follow you around and be your intern for three weeks or three months.”
I am proud of the fact that I was able to prioritize, so today, Monday, July 31, as I reintegrate myself to the world of those who labor, I have dozens of “non priority” emails to handle.
It was great to spend time with family and friends.
It was fantastic to watch those magical sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico in the company of those I love.
It feels great to be back in my New York City home, rested and inspired.
The lesson? We all do have the power to unplug, even if briefly. When we do, we experience what I anticipate may be the next most coveted of privileges: the luxury of disconnect.
Thanks for returning to TheMarioBlog.
TheMarioBlog post # 2671