"I live in that solitude which is painful in youth, but delicious in the years of maturity."  Albert Einstein

I've become a social media addict — like most of you, I suspect.  My day is consumed with Facebook, Twitter, and a sprinkle of MySpace. 

I recently added a section to my website entitled:  Caught in the Matrix?  Basically, it describes the world of distraction; the many different things that keep us from seeing the simple truths in life.

After pointing out the many ways most humans are "caught in the Matrix," I realized that I was no different.  Granted, I'm much less immersed in the Matrix than most people (who live in the realm of deception, distraction, drama, and materialism), but when it comes to being connected to the Matrix (via television, internet, and radio) I'm right there in the middle of it — and it's negative energy affects my life.

Although I see the Matrix for what it is: the world of distraction that blinds you from life's truths, choosing to be connected to it (via the media and technology) causes me to be a part of it.

I realized that in order to truly "unplug from the Matrix," I had to attempt this revolutionary challenge.



I've been disgusted with the quality of my first book for quite some time now.  And although I believe in allowing life (and life's inspirations) to unfold at a slow, nature-like pace, every time I could be writing a new chapter for Book Two, I find myself wasting time on Facebook, Twitter, or MySpace.  Television isn't as big of a distraction in my life as social networking, but it certainly has its place.

When I think of all the great thinkers in the world (Jesus, Lao-Tzu, Buddha, Aristotle, Plato, Socrates, da Vinci, Emerson, Thoreau, Franklin, Edison, Jefferson, or Einstein), I try to imagine what their typical day was like.  They didn't have all the distractions that we do; they were pretty much forced to use their brains.  They were consistently creating new things, ideas, or experiences.

Think of all the incredible knowledge and wisdom we've gained through their influence on our lives.  I really believe that the human beings who lived before the 1900's were more intellectually-advanced than most of the human beings living present day. 


But why is that?

It's because the human beings living in 2009 are constantly distracted by something — they're caught in the Matrix.  As we let technology distract us (and take over our lives), we become more and more dependent on it.  The more technology evolves, the more human beings devolve.

Which is why I've decided to eliminate Internet, television, and radio from my life for 30 days.  Can you even remember the last time you were without Internet, television or radio for 30 days?  If you're like most folks, you've probably never experienced that lack of distraction.

How much more productive would your life be, if you weren't constantly distracted by modern technology? 

Would you finish that book you've been working on?  Would you re-establish the bond between you and your kids?  Would you play a different board game each night with your family?  Would you attend church twice a week — revitalizing your connection to God?  Would you tackle that home-improvement project you've been wanting to do since forever?  Would you write your spouse a love-letter every day?  Would you truly focus your new free-time and energy on reshaping your body, via exercise?  Would you compose hand-written letters of appreciation to the folks who have touched your life the most?  Would you begin to meditate for 30 minutes a day?



How ironic is life?  By eliminating the "fancy distractions," you truly get to experience the excitement of a brand new world!

I'm envisioning that the experience will be similar to visiting an another planet.  Everything you've ever been used to (for your entire life) will no longer be there to distract you!  You'll be forced into new experiences.

How refreshing does that sound?

As many of you know, I recently completed a 30-Day Vegetarian Experiment.  I promised myself I'd return to eating meat at the end of 30 days — and I did.  The experience was eye-opening and incredibly challenging.  But it was rewarding, in regards to my conscious ability to push myself to higher limits. 

You have the same ability to increase your own self-discipline by challenging yourself with any 30-day experiment.  :]

Just recently, one of my BOPs (Buddy Ol' Pals) started a 66-day "no alcohol" experiment.  This has inspired me to include "no alcohol" in my newest 30-day challenge.  As a matter of fact — I'm going to test my ultimate limits:  For the next 30-days, I choose to eliminate the following from my life:

1.)  Internet (surfing and social media)
2.)  Television
3.)  Radio
4.)  Alcohol
5.)  Meat

Wow.  Talk about going into the desert.  Considering I rarely have company at my house, it looks like the next 30 days will consist of God, Neo (my dog), and myself.



I'm actually going to set up my tent in the backyard, in case I feel like sleeping out there a few nights.  How rad and different will that be?

The point of this experiment is to completely "strip-down."  To eliminate all the things that create a distraction in my life.  To determine whether or not The Nice Life philosophy is applicable without all of life's "fun" distractions.

Meaning, can I truly be happy and at peace, when it's just me?  No reality television distraction.  No virtual family (via social media) distraction.  No radio distraction.  No news media distraction.

This is gonna be the ultimate test of "pushing my limits."  If one can go into the desert alone for 30 days, I believe one can do anything.  :] 

I'm fully aware — that for some humans — the "no technology distraction" is their normal way of life.  Some people don't have the option to use the Internet, watch television, eat meat, drink alcohol, or listen to the radio.  This challenge wouldn't be much of a challenge for them.

However, this is about sacrificing the things that are a part of my normal routine.  It's designed to increase my level of self-discipline, while moving into new areas of awareness.

If you're thinking of attempting a similar challenge, find the things in your life that distract you the most ... and work on eliminating them.  If you can't do it for 30 days, just try it for a week.  I promise you — the experience will be invigorating. 

I can't believe I'm gonna miss the season premiere of Lie To Me and Curb Your Enthusiasm!  Let's not forget about college football!



Revolutionaries do what others don't.  :]

With that being said, I will be using a program that sends automated Tweets to my Twitter Followers.  I already use this now to send out random positive quotations throughout the day (in conjunction with my normal Tweets).  I think it's important to stay fresh in the minds of my Twitter Followers, so they can be reminded to visit the website (to read this and my other blogs).

In the upper-right-hand corner, you'll see new Tweets during this 30-day challenge, but they're just random positive quotations (and links to my blog and website) that I've already inserted into the program.  So just be aware of that — and understand that I'm not cheating — by accessing the Internet to Tweet.  The program is doing the work.  I also have a program that follows and unfollows people, according to the settings (keywords or locations) I enter.

In addition, I'll be accessing my email for business purposes.  I'll also give myself the freedom to update my personal website (if needed), and I will permit use of my phone.  Internet access will only be sought in emergency situations.  I'll still be attending church twice per week (and viewing whatever they project during service).

But other than that, for the next 30 days, my life will be free of the following:  Internet (surfing and social media), television, radio, meat, and alcohol!

Wish me luck!  (Telepathically, of course.)