Our awareness and mental energy are precious resources that deserve to be invested in meaningful activities like deep focus, nature, and real human connections.
You are the best! Your dancing is such a gift to me. I have been trying to emulate it in my kitchen, in my backyard. I’m not very good yet. It doesn’t matter. I always tap into the river of joy coming through your heart to mine and to everyone else’s when you dance. This post resonated with me because I have been doing the same thing with my phone—giving it some boundaries. Letting it know I have my own life. Leaving it someplace else while I go write or sing to the water. Then, I remember the other many ways I have of connecting to everything! I am so happy! Thank you for writing this and for sharing your bright spirit.
I've always hated my phone, even before social media. But i'm also a desktop user and did get addicted to social media, just not my phone. I'm 36 and hate phones with a passion, always have. Social anxiety, introvert etc. But I still had social media on my desktop, however 6 or 7 months ago, in the fall of 2024 I deleted my Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok accounts entirely (I downloaded my data first though idk why really but you can if you don't want to lose stuff) and i've never been happier and more at peace!
Now i'm just trying to spend less time on Youtube, which i'm managing! I also have substack here but I don't scroll much on here and I love the articles/posts I read, sent to my inbox.
Thank you for your article, Gurdeep! My sister feels the same way about her iPhone. She needs breaks from it, too. I don’t have this problem as I keep very few facebook friends, only a couple of groups I have joined, and I rarely comment on social media, except here on your website, I usually don’t have much to say. I mostly just read the posts and ignore the comments. But I understand how the smart phone can be a huge problem for just about everyone across the world. It certainly has changed all of our lives. I’m very glad I didn’t have a smart phone in my childhood. I was born in 1967. I’m 58 years old. I grew up riding my bike with my friends all over the neighbourhood and next neighbourhood. Playing outside until the street lights came on. Joining a baseball team. Ice skating. Rollerskating. Precious times with my friends that I would never want to exchange for an iPhone.
Loved your article, Gurdeep. Phones have truly created chaos in today’s world. Kids won’t even eat without screens in front of them. As you pointed out, it’s surprising how almost everyone owns a cellphone, even when they lack other basic resources. Really appreciate the helpful tip you shared at the end.
Limiting phone time is vital. There are no phones at the dinner table or in bedrooms in my home. End result is that family members actually speak to each other.
I consider myself fortunate that I got my first smartphone when I was still teaching and had to model not using the phone in front of students. That, plus back in those days, just the Facebook app alone ate so much battery power that I got annoyed and deleted it.
I've kept social media apps off of my phone since then and only do it on the computer. That said, crucial apps such as the Watch Duty fire app mean I pay more attention to the phone during the appropriate season. But if I'm not on the computer, I'm not on social media, and I'm glad for it.
A knife can be used as a weapon for robbery or murder or used to save a life. The knife is benign, it is the intent behind the use that matters. Same as a phone...use it for egotistical purposes of self aggrandizement, pandering to the mind and it will have negative effects... Use it as a tool to express Creator/ God/ Reverential Love and it is a powerfully useful tool.
The handheld computer that happens to also be a fone… it’s a conundrum. But then we wouldn’t get to read your stuff or see you dance a jig in the snow everyday! Or see some great cat videos. Stay warm up there!
Thank you Gurdeep. I love the music and dancing in nature 💚
I know my phone has me addicted. I recently deleted all social media apps and now only use Substack. Boundaries are key! And boundaries with a key!! Next level.
thank you for your simple wisdom. I only hope more people can follow your example. I have also been trying to distance myself from my phone but I hadn't thought of a locked drawer yet!
Very timely, Gurdeep!! I usually leave my phone in my bedroom after I get up. But I DO get distracted by my emails - so they're the equivalent issue! I have steadily been unsubscribing from many of the political & news emails. Now I go directly to one or two of the major ones I trust to be relatively honest and clear. I also deliberately choose to read articles on medieval history & art, on gardening, on enjoying flowers and trees, on music, on textiles handmade, on art, on walking... Feeding my soul, I call it! And finding those important moments of joy, so very important. Cheers from yet again rainy Vancouver.
You are the best! Your dancing is such a gift to me. I have been trying to emulate it in my kitchen, in my backyard. I’m not very good yet. It doesn’t matter. I always tap into the river of joy coming through your heart to mine and to everyone else’s when you dance. This post resonated with me because I have been doing the same thing with my phone—giving it some boundaries. Letting it know I have my own life. Leaving it someplace else while I go write or sing to the water. Then, I remember the other many ways I have of connecting to everything! I am so happy! Thank you for writing this and for sharing your bright spirit.
I don’t know about trying to dance like gurdeep. He’s got the innate Indian mudra thing us westerners can only dream of
100%. He had put out a video teaching Bhangra, so I was taking the lesson.
Thank you Gurdeep for your joyous dancing and wisdom. My phone is good for one thing: finding your videos for inspiration.
I've always hated my phone, even before social media. But i'm also a desktop user and did get addicted to social media, just not my phone. I'm 36 and hate phones with a passion, always have. Social anxiety, introvert etc. But I still had social media on my desktop, however 6 or 7 months ago, in the fall of 2024 I deleted my Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok accounts entirely (I downloaded my data first though idk why really but you can if you don't want to lose stuff) and i've never been happier and more at peace!
Now i'm just trying to spend less time on Youtube, which i'm managing! I also have substack here but I don't scroll much on here and I love the articles/posts I read, sent to my inbox.
Wonderful article.
Thank you for your article, Gurdeep! My sister feels the same way about her iPhone. She needs breaks from it, too. I don’t have this problem as I keep very few facebook friends, only a couple of groups I have joined, and I rarely comment on social media, except here on your website, I usually don’t have much to say. I mostly just read the posts and ignore the comments. But I understand how the smart phone can be a huge problem for just about everyone across the world. It certainly has changed all of our lives. I’m very glad I didn’t have a smart phone in my childhood. I was born in 1967. I’m 58 years old. I grew up riding my bike with my friends all over the neighbourhood and next neighbourhood. Playing outside until the street lights came on. Joining a baseball team. Ice skating. Rollerskating. Precious times with my friends that I would never want to exchange for an iPhone.
Loved your article, Gurdeep. Phones have truly created chaos in today’s world. Kids won’t even eat without screens in front of them. As you pointed out, it’s surprising how almost everyone owns a cellphone, even when they lack other basic resources. Really appreciate the helpful tip you shared at the end.
Bhangra video is amazing!
Limiting phone time is vital. There are no phones at the dinner table or in bedrooms in my home. End result is that family members actually speak to each other.
I consider myself fortunate that I got my first smartphone when I was still teaching and had to model not using the phone in front of students. That, plus back in those days, just the Facebook app alone ate so much battery power that I got annoyed and deleted it.
I've kept social media apps off of my phone since then and only do it on the computer. That said, crucial apps such as the Watch Duty fire app mean I pay more attention to the phone during the appropriate season. But if I'm not on the computer, I'm not on social media, and I'm glad for it.
Bless you for your always thoughtful posts and your joyous dancing xxx
A knife can be used as a weapon for robbery or murder or used to save a life. The knife is benign, it is the intent behind the use that matters. Same as a phone...use it for egotistical purposes of self aggrandizement, pandering to the mind and it will have negative effects... Use it as a tool to express Creator/ God/ Reverential Love and it is a powerfully useful tool.
The handheld computer that happens to also be a fone… it’s a conundrum. But then we wouldn’t get to read your stuff or see you dance a jig in the snow everyday! Or see some great cat videos. Stay warm up there!
Thank you Gurdeep. I love the music and dancing in nature 💚
I know my phone has me addicted. I recently deleted all social media apps and now only use Substack. Boundaries are key! And boundaries with a key!! Next level.
thank you for your simple wisdom. I only hope more people can follow your example. I have also been trying to distance myself from my phone but I hadn't thought of a locked drawer yet!
Very timely, Gurdeep!! I usually leave my phone in my bedroom after I get up. But I DO get distracted by my emails - so they're the equivalent issue! I have steadily been unsubscribing from many of the political & news emails. Now I go directly to one or two of the major ones I trust to be relatively honest and clear. I also deliberately choose to read articles on medieval history & art, on gardening, on enjoying flowers and trees, on music, on textiles handmade, on art, on walking... Feeding my soul, I call it! And finding those important moments of joy, so very important. Cheers from yet again rainy Vancouver.