Can You Unplug?

By Kyle S. Reyes, Owner of The Silent Partner Marketing

Can you "unplug" from society?  For a week?  Two days?  Two HOURS?
This past weekend, my fiancee and I were in Monroe, CT for our "Engaged Encounter" weekend.  It's something the church recommends engaged couples do.
I was a little concerned when I saw the paperwork that said, "no laptops allowed."
You've got to understand, I'm beyond "wired".  I pride myself on responding to emails within minutes.  I'm constantly juggling a wide variety of demands for my clients - which means 15 different email accounts feeding into one inbox.  It means emergency web changes in the middle of the night.  It means last minute press releases and crisis management.  As a former journalist, I live and breath "deadlines".
However, with all of the wedding planning coming to a head...and balancing the needs of my clients with the needs of, well...sanity...I decided it'd be in the best interest of my future marriage to unplug for the weekend.

And let me tell you - it was the greatest feeling in the world.

First of all, I had an opportunity to reconnect with my incredible and beautiful fiancee.  I found the stress of deadlines and emails melt away...even if it was for less than 48 hours.  Heck, I even stopped looking at Facebook.

Ok, maybe I didn't COMPLETELY disconnect.  But I didn't look at it AS MUCH.  Which is pretty much unheard of for me.

When I realized I couldn't stare at my phone or my computer...I was forced (gasp!) to take in the world around me.  The gorgeous sprawling grounds of the retreat center.  The smiles and pure love on the faces of the couples around us.  The simplicity of the life of the clergy.  The delicious food prepared for us (and I didn't even take pictures of it to share!).  But more importantly, the warm smile of the woman who I get to spend the rest of my life with.

I UNPLUGGED.  And to my utter surprise, the world didn't collapse around me.  I slept like I haven't slept in years.  And I actually enjoyed a weekend for a change.

The "Engaged Encounter" weekend is something I'd recommend for ANY engaged couple - even those who aren't religious.  Some of us look at the weekend as an opportunity to see God's role in all of the gifts that we have.  Some of us will just thank God that their iPhone isn't blowing up every two seconds.  Regardless of your background or beliefs...it's an opportunity to detach yourself from society and reconnect with the very core of your being...and the love of your life.

So whether you are engaged, married, or single...male or female...a business owner, an employee, or a stay-at-home parent...I have just one question for you.

Can you unplug?