One of the things I have always loved is sitting down to a good documentary.
Oh my god, I cannot tell you the joy I have felt watching hundreds – if not thousands – of them over the years. It also helps explain why I have over 3000 of them filling my house and storage units all around the bloody world.
However now I have a son – a super active, super happy son – it’s hard to even watch a commercial without interruption, let alone a movie.
So recently, when I was on a plane for a work trip, I shunned falling asleep [something I normally do even before the plane has taken off] and forced myself to watch an inflight film.
To be honest, the movie wasn’t that good, but the ability to sit there and be able to concentrate without interruption was a revelation.
I literally felt a different level of engagement and entertainment.
Of course, it helped that I also couldn’t use my phone – because normally, I would be on IMDB and getting info on what I am watching, while I am watching it.
For possibly the first time I understood what Jill means when she say’s she often feels I’m not fully present when we’re watching something together.
I used to think it was her way of saying, “Just fake being happy to watch a period drama with me” … but no, she meant I wasn’t going to get as much enjoyment out of our shared time together because I was allowing myself to be distracted.
But now I know.
Now I know that as much as I love my son … as much as I love my tech … there are moments where stepping inside a bubble is good for you.
Not just in terms of focus and calm … but in terms of enjoyment.
This should not be a shock to me.
Hell, I did something years ago for a hotel group based on this very issue, but I guess the real insight here is that nothing makes you see something like having it taken away from you.
Guess this means I’ll be finding a bunch of overseas work trips to be going on now. Ha.