Another Slice of My Freedom

I feel more joy being less connected.

A web presence… me using the Internet to communicate to the globe… sometimes, I wonder what I have gotten myself into. I question if an online life is truly sustainable and if I truly enjoy it. Do I really want to be connected and online, daily, for the long term?

Being online, on a computer, doesn’t feel nearly as amazing to me as being in nature, or meditating, or writing, or traveling, or trekking does. I love it, but only in moderation. It’s too easy to get lost in.

I want to be online only sometimes. I don’t want my computer, or my connection to it, to be my life. I am more empowered and centered when I spend my time being connected to my Self, and to nature.

Yet I’ve chosen a career that revolves around being online…

Often I am asked, by people not submerged in the online culture, how I balance working on the web. They mention how addictive being online is… how time seems to disappear… and it’s fair for them to assume that, as I ‘blogger’ and web coach, I must promote a tweeting-emailing-publishing-surfing-updating kinda’ life. A life lived online.

My computer is my tool, not my life.

I don’t promote a life lived online. I use the computer, and what it allows, to create easily and communicate globally. But me, as you see me online, can never completely express my life, nor do I want it to.

My writing is my life, not my tool.

I’ve tried writing to satisfy the belief that regular, scheduled blog postings are my duty, but it doesn’t work for me. Obligating myself into writing has proved rather uninspiring.

The problem is, this blog is for me to practice my writing, and I work best when I practice because I love to. I write for me. Just as your art is for you. It’s your choice to click and read me, but your reaction, I can’t control and can never know. I can only ever know what my words mean to me. I am write for my happiness.

I’m choosing to believe that my only duty to you is to love what I do, not to publish x times a week, on y day. I’m choosing to believe that if I like my words, You‘ll like my words, and, for that reason, You‘ll return to read them. Call me crazy if you like.

photo credit: DigiDi

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Carmen

I love this, "my only duty to you is to love what I do," it expresses exactly the way I want to create my life and my (to-be) career. Reading that is so inspiring to me. Thank you.
Tara Joyce

It's nice to meet you, Carmen. I love the colours you use in your
artwork. Nice website;)
michellebarryfranco

Oh thank you. You speak my truth (in your words, of course.) I struggle with this regularly, though some of the nuances are different. The roller coaster of online life is crazy. The feedback both exciting and demoralizing, all in an instant of new information.

Just spent all last night talking about this with my husband. Finding the right way to be a part of this "world" I do enjoy - at times - and still keep its right place in the mix of my life. It is a struggle when your soul-inspired work has a meaningful place here online, too. As yours does. And mine.

I appreciate when you share your thoughts with us - and I totally get it when you don't.
Tara Joyce

Thank you for the heartfelt and revealing response, Michelle. I
appreciate knowing I'm not the only one still perplexed by this
strange new web land.
JanScottNelson

I'd kind of got into the habit of thinking that, as I have a blog, I'd be letting my readers and myself down if I didn't post at least 2-3 times a week. I recently gave myself permission to only post when I had got excited about writing, or was struck by a creative idea. I feel creatively set free as a result. You can see, therefore, why your post resonated very strongly. Thank you, Tara, once again, for being a great role model!
Tara Joyce

And thank you, Jan, for the amazing support and for the great
affirmation that you feel the same way. It's so nice to know that I'm
not crazy and that these changes and realizations will bring the
freedom I desire.
deborahwall

Good for you. At the end of the day we are all responsible for what we create for ourselves. So I say, create away.
Tara Joyce

Thank you, Deborah. You are so right, I am responsible for what I
create for myself. And it's important for that to take precedence over
what I feel I 'should' create for others.
Tara Joyce

Thank you, Deborah. You are so right, I am responsible for what I
create for myself. And it's important for that to take precedence over
what I feel I 'should' create for others.
Nathalie Lussier

Ahh... just reading this made me exhale.

I'm naturally a "online all the time" person, but I like that I don't do the web on my cellphone. I like that I can turn off my computer and read a book, go swimming, or play games in person with someone across the table. I like that I can disconnect, in fact that's when all my ideas and creativity flow. Pretty crazy, huh?

Thanks for not adding to the push-push-publish mentality. You're my hero Tara! :D
Tara Joyce

Oh Nathalie! *hug* I'm so glad you see the value in disconnecting too.
You're inspiring in how you find balance in your life and work. You
are connected, yet creative and grounded, it's admirable. Thank you
for being so clear on what you want and who you are.
Alberto

This is something I've come to realize in recent times. I've spent many years working on environments that promote a 24/7 hyperconnected lifestyle only to realize this is not what I want for the rest of my life. The conception that being glued 12 hours a day at a screen typing like a monkey on crack equals being productive won't wash with me anymore. There is a lot of life and work outside the Internet. (However I hope you don't quit writing for us). Cheers.
Tara Joyce

I'm so glad you used the term 'hyperconnected'... it's a perfect word
to describe the lifestyle us web junkies like to promote. And it's
hard to see outside of it sometimes. I so happy you can.

I'll never quit writing, I promise, Alberto. It's too important to my
happiness, it be like suicide!