(Inspired by an email sent on this day to Lana, Oli, Sarah Morley, Luke, Tess, Conor and Sophie. The yoga commune-rs who I live with at Space) Kia Ora whanau and sangha, With the intention to be more present with myself, with you, the rest of the community, the loved ones overseas, I'm quitting WhatsApp for now and maybe for good. It's a self birthday present for 2024! 15th of August, he he :). In the short period of time that I've reduced the time spent on my smartphone, I noticed a few things:
- I realised that not only the typing, but the subconscious 'waiting' for a task to be completed: a message to be replied, along with the constant checking to see if it’s been responded, has been limiting my capacity to be fully present. A great deal of attention and energy would go to the interaction between "me" and "a device". Prior to or even without actually establishing a connection with the person I intend to connect with! All I would have done would be delivering messages from a place of “getting it done”, with the sneaky dopamine boost as supposed as a side effect. Followed by an incessant ruminating of inner chatter: “have they replied yet?" "oh, I need to send an audio to my friend overseas" "I need to listen to that audio again, what did they say?" "Have they seen my message yet?” "Did I write it with all my heart?" "Shall I delete it and re-write it?" "Shall I re-read what I wrote?" "Shall I check who has replied or texted me one more time?". Reflections: Was all of this getting on the way of me connecting to deeper parts of myself while embracing the feelings and emotions that are present, no matter how difficult? Do I intend to cultivate more time in Self Awareness and keep integrating the practices in a world full of distractions? The answers in my Heart are yes. 

communication with loved ones overseas

This is the hardest and biggest excuse I'd always give to myself and remain hooked. However, I've already scheduled a weekly call with my mum to her house landline or her phone via Skype. A weekly call including my three brothers. And a call including my aunties who my mum gets together with on the weekends. I'll start here and see what needs to be changed further down the road. I trust that by removing the 'instant communication' factor, there'll be more mindspace and heartspace to be there for my family, emotionally. To be proactive, rather than reactive. To practice active listening with the intention of lessening their / our suffering. To be more compassionate. Easier said than that. Big practice. Self reminder: what’s life all about otherwise?

more presence

As I keep integrating from being back in city life after ashram life for such an intense period of time overseas, I believe that this move is another step to my-Self. I trust the time not invested in the relationship between "me" and "a device" will be devoted to the relationship with myself. I trust this will ripple out positively in the world around me.

back to old school

If I'm lucky to have you around Space whare / whanau / sangha, I hope to see you more in the flesh. If that's not always available, let's call each other if you like or give a 'no internet' text message (sms). If I'm teaching or surfing or meditating and I didn't pick your call, I'll call you back. If you are overseas you may like to use this email to connect with me and we may like to schedule a video call via Skype, Google Meet or any other easy platform for the both of us. If you didn't have data or wifi for this I can also call you to your phone number without wifi or data as I have credit on Skype to do this, including landlines.

P.S.: last but not least. If you haven't watched "The Social Dilemma" on Netflix -a revealing documentary by social media channels CEO formers of how the robots and algorithms have taken over- I encourage you to do so.

If you feel inspired to get out of the Matrix (and eat canned food with me in the actual real), I'll be with you in full support, in a heartbeat. (On a side note: I'm still on FB, only on "Happy & Calm" and "Koha Yoga Newtown" pages and also my usual Instagram, sharing in a more selective and mindful way). Thank you for sharing with me this roller coaster called life.

With Love, R