Digital Detox … I’m Back From Vacation

I’m back!

Vacation to South Carolina was wonderful.  I truly enjoyed the break from just about everything.  If you followed along.  I used the time of vacation to take a break from the block and just about everything social media and digitally related.

What did that mean?

Well, here’s a rundown:

• The Stretched Blog had the worst week of traffic ever.
• The Jon Stolpe Stretched Facebook Fanpage “People Reached” statistic dropped by over half.
• My Klout score dropped by a point.
• My Empire Avenue “stock value” dropped by 3e.
• I missed out on many new blog posts.
• I fell behind on my e-mail both personally and for work.
• Essentially, I lost ground – from a digital perspective.

But…

• I spent uninterrupted time with my family.
• I enjoyed floating in a lazy river.
• I read most of Bob Goff’s book, Love Does.
• I played in the warm ocean waves of Surfside Beach, SC.
• I sat on the beach – and I even got a little sun tan and some sun burn.
• I played miniature golf at a cool course in Myrtle Beach, SC.
• I slept in.
• I ran along the ocean.
• I laughed, lived, and created new memories with my wife and kids.

So was the digital detox worth it?

Absolutely.  It was a bit of a challenge at first.  I haven’t taken a real break from the blog in about a year.  And I’ve certainly plugged into social media and to many other blogs over the past few years that I’ve tracked and added to on a nearly daily basis.  But as the week went along, it became a bit easier.  I really needed the rest, and I especially needed the time to focus completely on my family.

I’m still processing what that means for the future.  I still intend to write every day.  I still intend to be engaged through social media.  But I need to find the right balance.  This time of digital detox was a great reminder.

Will I do this again?

Well, actually, yes.  I won’t have a choice in just over a week.  I’ll be heading to Guatemala with my daughter on our church’s high school missions trip.  I’ll be unplugged for just over a week.  But, it will be okay.  I have a couple of great guest bloggers lined up.  (I could use a couple more if you’re interested!)  Besides, I’ll be hanging out with my daughter doing some great things!

All in all, I’d recommend an occasional digital detox.  It will give you new perspective.  I will give you more opportunity to get back to living.  It will still be here when you get back.  Go for it!

Have you ever taken time for a digital detox?  How did it go?  Was it difficult or easy to let go of everything?  What did you learn from the experience?

(What was your favorite repost that ran over the past week or so?)

I’m On Vacation

I’m On Vacation

I am on vacation beginning on Saturday, July 7, 2012. I will be offline while I am away. No e-mail, Twitter, or Facebook.

Instead, I will be reading, relaxing, and enjoying time with my family.

I have scheduled blog posts to run while I am away. The posts are from my archives.  After blogging for several years, there’s got to be some good stuff in here (I hope).

This is a huge step for me as I’ve been blogging nearly every day now for a year.  I hope you don’t mind that I’m taking this break.  Please come back for more great stuff on The Stretched Blog.

Thanks for being a part of The Stretched Community!  See you next week!

What do you do with your blog when you go away?  Do you ever take a break?  How does that look?

Ice Breaker – Vacation Destination

This week has been a bit confusing with the holiday stuck right in the middle of the work week.  Yesterday felt like a Monday despite the fact that it was really Thursday.  Just to be clear, today is Friday.  And you know what that means?  It’s time for the weekly Stretched Ice Breaker.  Ice breakers are questions designed to help us get to know each other. I ask a question and give you my answer.  Then you answer the question by leaving a comment.

Since I’m heading out for a week of family vacation, this week’s question is related to vacation.  Here goes!

Question:. Thinking back on your past vacations, what is one of your most favorite vacation destinations?

My Answer:. Hawaii was pretty incredible, but that was several years ago.  One of my more recent favorites was Vermont.  A couple of years ago, my family had the privilege of staying at Smugglers Notch.  I’m assuming that this must be a pretty happening place during ski season. But we went during the summer, and we had a blast.  We swam in the four or five different swimming pools, we hiked to the top of two of the three mountain peaks, and we road our bikes to Stowe.  We also enjoyed factory tours of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream factory and Cabot cheese factory.  Summer is a great time to visit Vermont!

Now, it’s your turn. Let’s hear your answer to this week’s ice breaker question. Leave your answer in the comments, so we can all enjoy!

Top 10 Things NOT To Do On An Airplane

With the terrorism on airplanes over the past several years and the heightened security, air travel has become less enjoyable.  Following our recent trip to Dallas, TX, I was thinking of a more humorous list of things NOT to do on an airplane.  Here’s what I came up with:

1.  Get up to go to the bathroom as soon as the plane takes off.  (Don’t you know that the fasten seat belt light is still on?)

2.  Ring the call button every ten minutes.

3.  When the flight attendant comes to check on you point to someone else in your row.  (“I didn’t press the button.”)

4.  Yell “Quiet” or “Shut Up” whenever you hear a baby crying.

5.  Aisle bowling.  (Wouldn’t this be fun though?)

6.  Stand up and shout, “Chinese Fire Drill!”

7.  Clog the toilet in the airplane bathroom.

8.  Move your seat back and forth over and over again.

9.  Order a drink that is not in the list of available beverages.  (“Can I have a decaf caramel latte?”)

10.  Pretend you’re Alec Baldwin and refuse to stop playing Words with Friends after the warning to put away all electronic devices.  (This is a fast way to be removed from the plane.)

I’m sure you have some more items that could be added to the list.  Share them here!

Thanksgiving in April

Yesterday, our family took the DART train to the West End Historic District in Dallas, TX to take in the sites and sounds.  We saw the Grassy Knoll at Dealey Plaza where John F. Kennedy was shot.  We saw the Old Red Museum.  We also saw the John F. Kennedy Memorial, the log cabin in Founders Plaza, and Rosa Parks Plaza.  It was exciting to visit each of these places as we walked through this area, but the highlight for each of us was the visit to Thanksgiving Square.

Thanksgiving Square was built in 1977 as a place to remind everyone to be thankful.  In the square, there are several water fountains, a Norman Rockwell mosaic, a bell tower, and a few structures designed to focus your attention on gratitude.  As I walked through the Golden Ring of Thanksgiving, I gave thanks for my family, my kids, and my wonderful wife.  I thanked God for restored health for Leanne and for a return to normalcy.

After we ate lunch in the square, we entered Thanksgiving Hall where we were greeted by friends of my dad.  My dad had served on an interfaith council that met in this location.  Several of the council members were there following a regular meeting.  They each greeted my dad so warmly.  As we chatted with our new friends, we learned a bit about the council and about Thanksgiving Square.  Did you know that seven countries around the world celebrate a Thanksgiving Day?  Did you know that the first Thanksgiving in Texas occurred in May of 1541?  We learned these facts and more as we walked through the hall.

Finally, we ended our visit by walking up the spiral sidewalk to the entrance of Thanksgiving Square Chapel.  The chapel includes a spiral display of stained glass designed to focus your attention upward.  Since we were by ourselves, we all laid down on the floor and looked straight up at the spiral ceiling.  What a wonderful way to end our vacation in Texas – with Thanksgiving in April!

What are you thankful for today?

Ice Breaker – Good Friday

Time for a quick Stretched Ice Breaker question to get your Friday going.  This is when I ask a question, and we all answer it.  I’ll leave my answer here in the post, and you can leave your answer in the comments.  Check back at the end of the day to see how everyone else answered the question.

Ready?

Question:  What’s good for you today?

Answer:  So today’s question is a bit more wide open than normal.  But today is Good Friday.  I couldn’t resist.  What’s good for me today?  I’m thankful to have a few days off.  I’m actually on vacation visiting my parents and my brother.  It’s been good to be away from the hustle and bustle of life as we know it in PA.  And it’s been good to visit with my folks.  Yesterday, we did some geocaching by White Rock Lake, and we went to my folks’ church for Maundy Thursday.  Today, we’re heading into my brother’s restaurant to see where he works, and we’ll be heading back to church tonight for Good Friday service.  All this is good!

So there, you have it.  My answer is simple.  Now, it’s your turn.  Share your answer in the comments.

My Dad’s Morning Routine

This morning, I woke up in another part of the country to green grass, fully leaved trees, and warmer temperatures.  As I walked to the back door to get a glimpse of the sunshine, I saw my dad lying down on the back porch.

He laid there wearing his “exercise” clothes doing his daily calisthenics and having his daily time for prayer and meditation.  My dad could give you all the details of his routine which has been part of his daily morning ritual for the past several years.  (Here’s a link to his blog where he shares the details of his prayer time.)  The general gist of it includes stretching, abdominal exercises, and push ups.  Then it moves to a time of prayer when he faces different directions and prayers for his family, his church, his community, and the world.  My dad uses the Psalms as he moves through his exercises.  He has a method for reciting all 150 Psalms.  He used to do this when he went swimming.  Now, he recites the Psalms as he warms up on his mini-trampoline.

As I watch him out there practicing his sermon for Sunday and going through the rest of the routine.  I’m inspired.  I’m amused.  I’m intrigued.

Many of you may know that I’m a guy who thrives on routine, patterns, discipline, and schedule.  I can see where it came from.  My dad is a man of discipline.  My grandparents were both very disciplined.  My guess is that there was some type of routine in their families before them.

Okay, now the routine has gone a bit far.  My dad is singing.  If you’ve ever sat next to my dad in church, you know this isn’t a good thing.  Actually, it’s pretty neat to hear…in the privacy of my parents’ backyard, my dad finds oneness with God.  I’m certain that his singing is sweet, sweet music to the Creator.

As we prepare to visit my parents’ church tonight for their Maundy Thursday service (we don’t have this at our home church), I’m looking forward to a day together.  What a great way to start the day!

What’s something quirky about your parents?  What quirkiness or trait do you have that you can see came from your parents?

I Need A Break

Have you ever come to a point where you know you need a few days off?

The time has come for me.  I’m taking a couple of days off from work, and I’m heading to NYC with my family for some time away together.  The Stretched blog will continue, so don’t go away.  It should be great to have some rest and recharge for the final sprint to the end of 2011.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30

So seriously, do you need a break?  When will you stop to take a breath?

New Traditions

Here we are at the top of Mont Tremblant in Quebec, Canada after an hour and a half hike back in August.  If it looks cold and cloudy to you, you are correct.  We actually hiked into the clouds, and the temperature dropped noticeably as we made are ascent to the top.  As we journeyed up the mountain, our kids repeatedly spoke of a new family tradition.  You see, last summer, we hiked to the top of Sterling Mountain and Madonna Mountain when we were on vacation in Vermont.  So two years in a row must make a tradition.

Family traditions like this can have a huge positive impact on our families.  Traditions create fun expectations for everyone in the family.  For example, my family always anticipates putting up the Christmas tree and listening to each other share stories as they hang up Christmas ornaments that have special significance.  We also look forward to certain meals that have some tradition and family history tied to them.  For example, I love to make, serve, and eat the Swedish Christmas meal.  It brings back so many sweet memories of my grandparents, cousins, and parents.

This year as we rode the cable car down to the bottom of Mont Tremblant (yes, we cheated), our kids were already scheming and asking about where we could go next year on vacation that has a mountain we can climb.  Despite the fatigue of climbing, I shared their excitement for continuing our new family tradition next year.

What traditions do you keep?  Why?  What is the special significance of these traditions?

Be Generous

Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, 
   who conduct their affairs with justice.

Psalm 112:5

When Leanne and I were celebrating our 15th anniversary in Cape Cod, we met Bob (above).  Bob met us one morning as we were getting off the boat on Nantucket.  This meeting had been arranged by Bob’s son who goes to our church, and I want to make sure I never forget what we experienced.  I don’t want to forget this day, because it was truly a great reminder of generosity.  Here’s what happened.

Leanne and I decided that we should go to Nantucket  on the actual day of our 15th anniversary.  We arranged the visit boat ride over to the island from Cape Cod through Mary, our bed and breakfast hostess.  We decided to take our bikes on the boat, so we could enjoy some biking and sight-seeing during our once in a lifetime day trip.  As we unloaded our bikes from the boat, we met Bob.  He was standing there patiently waiting for us in anticipation of starting the tour.  Bob took us over to his yacht club where we dropped off his bike and proceeded to walk a few blocks up a hill to The First Congregational Church where our friend from church had been married.  We walked up to the bell tower to enjoy spectacular views of Nantucket.

After walking back down to the yacht club, we jumped in Bob’s Suzuki Sidekick.  From here, Bob took us all over the town where we saw The Oldest House on the island, the old windmill, and some homes of well-known business people and celebrities.  The town is beautiful with its cobblestone streets and its blooming hydrangea bushes.  As we traveled around the town, it was obvious that Bob knew many facts about this town and he was so happy to be able to share the place he loves with us.

When we got back to the yacht club, Bob offered to take us for a ride in his boat.  At this point, I was beginning to wonder if I was dreaming – was I going to wake up back at home in Pennsylvania?  Bob drove us around the harbor area of Nantucket and pointed out various homes and sites.  He also shared stories about his family and about his business.  You could tell he was particularly proud of his kids.  The boat ride was so refreshing, and I felt like I was flying along the water as we motored across the harbor.  It was a boat ride to remember.  (Leanne even had an opportunity to drive the boat.)

Our time with Bob wasn’t over when we arrived back at the yacht club.  Bob invited us to lunch at the club.  It was an offer we couldn’t refuse – and I’m not sure he would have taken no for an answer.  We enjoyed sandwiches and lemonades on the patio overlooking the tennis courts and harbor.  Bob continued with stories of the yacht club.  He told us about the boat races that he and his brother had won.  He shared about how his kids had grown up at the yacht club every summer.  He wasn’t bragging.  He was celebrating.  He was expressing thanksgiving for what he had experienced.

Following lunch, we said our good-byes.  As Leanne and I walked to our bikes, we looked at each other and agreed that we would never forget our 15th anniversary, and we would never forget the generosity of Bob – a man we had never met before this day, a man who expressed generosity to complete strangers.  I don’t anticipate the business success that Bob has had in his life (although I suppose that’s possible), but I want to be like Bob when it comes to being generous.  Thanks, Bob for a great day and an important reminder to be generous.

Have you ever experienced generosity that blew you away?