"Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."  Ralph Waldo Emerson

Yesterday marked the end of my 30-Day Internet, television, radio, meat, and alcohol fast.  Overall, leaving The Matrix (the world of distraction) was an extremely pleasant experience.  Choosing to disconnect from the world forced me into new experiences. 

The first few days were kinda weird.  After waking, I'd just sit there in bed and think Okay, what am I gonna do today?  It rained for the entire first week.  I set up my tent in the backyard and would spend time out there reading, as the rain pelted the tent.  It was pretty neat.

During the following week, I had to return to Virginia to fight two silly traffic tickets (I got them both dismissed).  The drive from Alabama to Richmond takes about ten hours.  Although I couldn't listen to the radio (outside world), I gave myself permission to listen to my i-Pod.  I don't have music on my i-Pod — just audio books, preacher sermons, and lectures. 

Since I wasn't watching television or surfing the Internet, I wasn't aware of all the flooding in Georgia.  Luckily, when I stopped at a gas station, 30 miles across the Georgia line, the attendant told me Interstate 20 was shut down about five miles ahead.  He said it had been shut down for the past two days because of the flooding.  I had no idea it was so severe.  He gave me alternate directions (down some back roads), and I only lost about 45 minutes on the detour.

The Virginia visit was a unique experience.  I got to hang out with all my BOPs (Buddy Ol' Pals), and they were thrilled about having a designated driver all weekend.  Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, I wheeled them around.



Since I was driving my pal's car, I couldn't very well expect to control the radio.  We just listened to XM radio.  There wasn't any connection to the "outside world," it was just like listening to a CD.

I found the whole "not drinking in the bar" experience to be quite empowering.  I was able to sit back and observe everyone (something I like to do anyway).  Observing a room full of drunks (with a sober perspective) can be highly entertaining.  Try it sometime.  You just feel "smarter."  Not to mention, you don't have to worry about having a hangover the next day.  Let's not forget about the savings!  You can go out for an entire weekend and only blow ten bucks!

That Sunday, my pal had a cookout and the NFL games were on TV.  I brought a book to read and tried not to focus on the television.  It wasn't really connection to the "outside world," like watching the news would be.  I couldn't very well expect a house full of people to not watch the NFL games on account of me being a weirdo.  I brought Neo and played with him outside as well.

The only other television I watched was with my dad on Sunday night.  All he does is watch TV, so if I didn't sit down in the living room, we wouldn't have spent any quality time together.  It was some reality show about a pawn shop in Las Vegas.  Again, nothing connected to the "outside world."

After five days in Virginia, I returned to Alabama.  I spent time cleaning the house, shampooing the carpets, cleaning the garage, changing my oil, changing my front brake pads, and putting new rotors on my car.  I attended both Wednesday and Sunday services at church each week.  And I did watch a DVD of the Sunday service I missed while in Virginia (that was the only time I plugged in my home television).

But the most important thing I accomplished was working on my second book.  On October 6th, I started with Chapter 1 and started writing.  The next nine days, I was in "the zone."  All the old stuff I had written in the past two years (that I thought would go into book two) was naturally tossed aside.  In those nine days, I wrote 33 brand-new (sequential) chapters. 

Whereas, my first book was "all over the place," had crappy grammar and short chapters, this book flows together seamlessly.  I'm incredibly satisfied with how well it has come together.  Most chapters are two pages (single-spaced) on Microsoft Word.  In my last book, the chapters were probably 3/4 of one page.  Chapter 32 "Man-Rape" ended up being three pages and Chapter 34 "Anger" (written yesterday), ended up being five pages (on Microsoft Word)!

The quality of my last book was like I was playing "rookie ball."  This book is going to put me into the major leagues.  I cover some very touchy topics and unleash all my dark secrets.  Some chapters begin with me speaking very factually, then evolve into a parable or metaphor.  In some parts, it's kinda "trippy," as I enter the reader's mind, describing their present moment thoughts and feelings.  It'll prove to be quite the experience.

I'm really excited about it.  If it weren't for this 30-day fast, none of this would be a reality.  The fast was such a powerful experience for me; everything was so easy.   No alcohol, meat, radio or television was a piece-of-cake.  The only problematic area was the "no Internet" part. 

Since I gave myself permission to check my email and update my own website, it still put me "on the Internet."  However, I did end up allowing myself to use the Internet as a tool.  While writing the book, I needed to use Google, in order to research certain items.  I also used Dictionary.com, Mapquest (once), and a few other websites (as tools only).  The next time I try this, I'm just going to go "no computer at all."  That's really the experience I was hoping for, but it's just not practical at this phase of my life.  My main intention was to avoid the distractions of social media (Facebook, Twitter and MySpace) and I didn't log in to either of those accounts.  My Twitter posts were all automated.

If you'd like to read a summary of my upcoming book Your Truth Will Set You Free, just click HERE.

Click HERE to read Chapter 1 "Your Truth."

Click HERE to read Chapter 33 "Lust."

My "30 days in the desert" was a powerful experience.  Some things (not discussed here) have already been covered in the book.  I plan to have it available for purchase by December 1st.

I can feel myself easily evolving into a permanent vegetarian.  Although I treated myself to KFC yesterday, I like the way I feel (physically, mentally, and emotionally) while on a vegetarian (natural) diet.  The more research I do about vegetarianism, the more I realize — it was how humans were designed to live.  Our teeth and digestive tracks were created for a plant-based diet (do some research on your own).

As far as alcohol is concerned, after being "toxin-free" for the past 30 days, I don't feel inclined to return.  It's just a time-waster that temporarily takes away a person's power.  I discuss this in greater detail in Chapter 9 "The Power of Sobriety" in my new book.  I think I'm going to eliminate consumption of alcohol until New Year's Eve.  I'm considering drinking some beer this weekend, as a "reward" for my fast, but it'll be a reluctant procedure.  I think it's important to return to whatever was eliminated during a challenge, so you can observe the effects.

I did this after my initial 30-day vegetarian challenge.  I returned to eating meat (per my initial requirements) and three weeks later, I was back on a vegetarian diet.  And now the vegetarian diet seems like my "new normal."  I think alcohol will have a similar effect.  If I do decide to drink, it'll be this weekend.  After that, I won't drink again until my book is completed.  Even after the book is completed, I probably won't drink until New Year's Eve.

Can you remember the last time you experienced a 30-day span with full sobriety?  Were you 20-years-old?  Has it been a decade?  You should try it.  It's quite powerful.

Click HERE for photos from my Virginia trip.  Don't forget to read the summary of my new book, and the two chapters I've posted.  :]