Did I learn anything profound....

[j_cheney]

Hmmm...not really. I already knew I waste too much time.

I suspect a lot of people don't like to think--I mean, just sit in silence and ponder things. (These are the same people who come back from a summer off school and talk about how glad they are that school's starting again because they were bored all summer. I have never understood that.) They like to be told what to think about by the TV or the radio. I suppose that it's more comfortable for the above people to have their peeps around telling them what to think about. Never been one of those types myself.

I didn't have any trouble not turning on the TV, stereo, or computer. In fact the surprising thing was how many times I tried to turn on the car radio...I kept finding myself reaching for that dial. Autopilot.

I also didn't get much done writing-wise. I got some outlining and plotting done, but no writing. I think it would have been a more valuable experiment if I had gotten three short stories written....something like that. ;o)

Anyhow, I do think I'm going to work harder to limit the amount of time I spend on-line, perhaps limiting the # of times I check LJ and e-mail to 3 or so times a day. That should help. But I don't think that the idea of the fast was as terrifying for me as it was for the college students. Which is fitting....

Comments

[madwriter.livejournal.com]

Or as I've put it before, "Why are so many people afraid of silence?"

--Danny, who was also never bored in the summer time.

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

Nice way to put it... ;o)

Yep

[namelessarchon.livejournal.com]

Twice a day LJ checks is probably more than enough. It isn't like what you are checking for won't be there when you finally get around to it. However, I find that when I write I hit dead zones, and need a ten minute break. During such occasions I find checking in on LJ very rewarding and a perfect way to recharge before delving in again.

Re: Yep

[theladywolf.livejournal.com]

Yup, I'm the same as that. I also check LH and AW as well as LJ. LH is pretty quiet though but there's always stuff going on at AW and I have to tear myself away. Like over the next two days there's going to be a repping frenzy and I've promised myself I'm not going to participate. (But I might) :D

Three short stories in a day is pretty much impossible. I gave myself a day to get three stories tidied up. Three days later, I've just finished the second one.

Actually I found on my silent retreat that I coped pretty much the same as you. It was just enjoyable and not too much of a stretch at all.

Re: Yep

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

I meant that three as hyperbole. I might be able to finish 3 flashes, but I hardly ever do flash, so not likely. ;o)

Re: Yep

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

Yes, I think I need to find a different way to deal with the dead zones....and push past them. We'll see.

Re: Yep

[jjschwabach.livejournal.com]

I read during them.
I hardly ever listen to music, except in the car.
I likes my quiet time. I always have.

Three flashes a day, BTW, could translate into one short-short, or half a short, or...