I’ve come to realize just how incredibly challenging it is to unplug in today’s world! This year, my heartfelt mission was to dramatically reduce my cellphone usage to the essentials—just making and receiving calls. But, to be honest, I’ve found myself reaching for that phone far more than I had ever intended! What’s standing in my way? My fiercest enemy—Two-factor authentication! To access my school account, I have to scramble to find the Okta Verify app on my phone and confirm the number my computer displays. If you haven’t heard of Okta, let me tell you—it’s a vital multi-step verification app that educational institutions and businesses alike are embracing to protect their sites and emails from potential hackers. My ultimate goal is to transition all my two-factor authentication over to my iPad (for the apps) and my email (for those pesky text verifications). Just a heads-up, though—it’s a frustrating process!

A Short Story:

This is Anakin.

He is my 9 month old Siberian Kitten.

Yesterday, my poor kitty had the heartbreaking experience of getting his poo stuck to his tail. As you can see, he is EXTREMELY fluffy, and it just tore me apart! After countless attempts to resolve the issue myself and getting nowhere, I was on a mission to find the nearest cat groomer, determined to get some help to clean up my cat’s tail and give him a trim to prevent this from ever happening again. I reached out to three places; two didn’t pick up, and one couldn’t fit him in until Saturday, which felt like an eternity! Then I found the fourth place, and a truly wonderful lady answered. I poured my heart out about my poor cat, and her exact words were, “Oh, you’re just wanting a poop scoop? Come on in! You can just walk in, no appointment needed!” I couldn’t help but burst into laughter at such a hilariously fitting name for a booty/tail trim, and a wave of relief washed over me! If there are any fellow pet owners in the Jacksonville, Florida area, I HIGHLY recommend A Gentle Touch Pet Grooming! The owner radiates warmth and kindness, and you can truly feel her love for animals! After she expertly finished trimming Anakin, I immediately booked another appointment. She’s that incredible, and the prices are so reasonable! Without hesitation, she asked for my number, and I gladly gave it to her. Once I got home, it sank in that she was probably going to text me for appointment confirmation, and sure enough, there it was! I was so relieved because I could either call to confirm or respond to her text, and since I’m sticking to my no texting rule during my Unplugged Journey, I called to confirm that we would be there to ensure my appointment wouldn’t get canceled. This journey is definitely still a work in progress!

Thank You: A Special Message

I can’t help but take this moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to all my incredible friends who have unwaveringly stood by my side during this journey and continue to do so. Before this adventure began, I was engaged in conversations with so many more people—my “social media friends,” as I affectionately call them. Some of those friends haven’t reached out at all since I embarked on this path, and you know what? That’s perfectly fine. But to those who have remained steadfast—the ones who call me every single day, the ones who check in on me just because, and especially to my extraordinary friend who wrote me my very first letter—I want to thank you with every ounce of love in my heart. Your support means the world to me; thank you for truly listening and for deepening the bond of our friendship. THANK YOU for everything!

Closing Thoughts: A Message For My Readers

I want to take a moment to reflect on this incredible journey. The challenge of cutting down on distractions has truly been eye-opening. It’s wild how our phones can serve as both our lifelines and our biggest roadblocks- especially with those pesky two-factory authentication codes that seem to keep pulling me back in.

I also want to take this opportunity to thank each and everyone of you, my wonderful readers. Your support and engagement mean the world to me! I’m really curious about your thoughts! How do you handle technology distractions? Any tips or tricks that have worked for you to stay focused? And have you had any amazing support from friends lately? I can’t wait to read your stories!