I’ve lived long enough to know one thing for sure — the best parts of life aren’t online. They don’t come from a glowing screen. They come from quiet mornings, hard work, and the kind of peace you can only find when the noise is turned off.
I grew up in Appalachia. We didn’t have much, but we had what mattered. I remember sitting outside on the front steps, listening to the frogs down by the creek and the wind blowing through the trees. That didn’t cost a thing — but it filled me up in a way no scroll on a phone ever could.
These days, it’s easy to get lost in the endless loop — YouTube videos, social media feeds, breaking news, and everyone trying to sell you a “better life.” But the truth is, most of that is just noise. Real life is still out there — in the garden, on a dirt road, at the kitchen table with someone you care about. You can’t buy it, download it, or watch it in HD.
Sometimes I catch myself reaching for the phone without even thinking. That’s how they’ve trained us. But then I remind myself to look up. To step outside. To grab a cast iron skillet and cook something real. To sit still for a few minutes and just be. That’s where the real reset happens — not on a screen, but in the space where there’s no filter, no likes, and no algorithm telling you what matters.
So if you’re feeling tired, burned out, or like something’s missing — try turning everything off. Go outside. Walk slow. Watch the clouds. Plant something. Call a friend instead of texting. Let your mind breathe. Because the best things in life aren’t on a screen — they’re right in front of you, if you’re willing to look.
Yes I do that myself. Go out and walk to dirt my thoughts out. Can’t explore the woods like I did when I was younger but still go in to just listen to the wind and birds and squirrels.
MD I grew up in the 60’s long before we had cell phones or computers. It is sad to realize that there are so many young people who don’t know how to enjoy what is real, tangible. I am thankful that I live in a place where I can walk outside and hear all kinds of frog, birds and other animals and that I can listen to the wind in the trees. Simple pleasures are the best.
Hello M.D. I totally agree. I enjoyed reading your message, it was simply beautiful and very needed to be heard. I feel sometimes like this generation is lost. They are all caught up in modern day technology and are really missing out on what life is really all about. Spending time sitting around the dining table talking after having a delicious meal or sitting out on the front porch while the kids run around playing, in the yard just simple little things like that . God help us all to get back to the simple ways of life.
Yep, I go out to my barn every morning. The dogs meet me at the gate, happy to see me. I feed the chickens, goats, dogs and cats. I always experience the weather, rain, snow, wind, heat. I noticed the geese and swans migrating, the crops in fields maturing and the seasons passing. I smell freshly mowed hay or the perfume of sage brush after a good rain . Within the gates of my little place I’m the law. Chaos is not allowed within those gates. The world beyond might be crazy, but within the fence line is order and a measure of peace. Even when I’m not actually there, I can go there in my mind.