Unplugged To Get Plugged In

My cousin and I were going on a “girls night out”, but I couldn’t find my cell phone. I went to pick her up (she lives just a few blocks from me) and brought her back to my house so she could call me to see where my phone was at. (I forgot about the iPhone Find app I could have used from my PC.) Sure enough, I had left it in my bathroom. Being the “mature” ages that we are now, we starting laughing about how important our cell phones are to us, which led to our conversation about the old pay phones that we relied on when we were driving somewhere. There are so many “new and improved, time-saving” ways of doing things today.

My all-time favorite app that has saved me hours upon hours of time and stress, is the GPS system on my phone – in particular, my WAZE app. Going or coming home from Austin has been a challenge when I pass through Temple, TX. It seems they have eternal road construction going on that causes up to an hour of delay because of the traffic. Aw – but my WAZE app guides me to the off-roads that gets me around it – saving a lot of time.
This post, today, was written a couple of days ago. I knew I would be heading out on a retreat where I’ll be completely unplugged from technology for several days so that I get “plugged in” to complete focus on God. But in order to get my daily posts out, I relied on the wonders of technology. I used a great app called “Hootsuite”. It gives us the tools to set up a Facebook post for delivery at a later date and time – thus this post today, as well as the ones that will be posted through to Sunday. On Monday, I’ll be back on “live” again.

How blessed I feel to live in this day of innovation, technology and seemingly endless opportunities to truly be the best we can be at anything we attempt to do. Continuing to be in a learning mode has been my modus operandi and it has served me well. It impresses upon me that this "mature" dog can continue to learn new tricks. I don’t want to live in a state of complacency – sitting in a rocking chair, just flipping channels on TV, and let life slip through my fingers. I want to squeeze everything I can out of this life while I still can. There are adventures to be had, lessons to be learned, trails to blaze and imprints to be left behind.

Over the next few days, technology will be unplugged from my world as I’ll be intentionally plugging into focus on God without the everyday distractions of my doorbell or cell phone ringing, or my incessant need to check my emails, text messages or my Facebook page. I’ll be learning some “God-first” lessons without technology to assist me. I will be “present” with Him to experience Him in the beauty around me. But, believe you me – I’ll be excited to get back on-line, come Sunday. As sweet as getting away from it all can be, it doesn’t compare to knowing no matter what I’m doing in the busy-ness or quiet of my life – God is ALWAYS there. I’ll be coming back to the scripture “Whoever believes in Me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do EVEN GREATER THINGS than these, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12).

I think He must have had technology, television, satellite and social media in mind, to spread His good words and works, when He said that. He is as close as a whispered prayer and He is also so close, I can communicate this minute with my friends around the world. It’s a blessing to “unplug” and a great blessing to “plug in” to all the conveniences and blessings of making this big world come right into our homes and lives. Let’s make the most of what we’re blessed with, to become the best we can be in sharing the light of Christ to our world….doing the GREATER WORKS THAN THESE, that He promised.

Breaking Out of the Safe Space

Over the years, I knew what breaking out of the comfort zone was because I was married to a risk-taker kind-of-guy. Some risks paid off and some didn’t, but it was the two of us, so it made an "It Takes Two" mindset for stepping out and going for it. We were big thinkers and bet-the-farm risk takers. That was then; this is now. I’ve become much more guarded as a single – not venturing too far outside of my comfort zone in some ways, especially when it comes to protecting my #1 asset…ME! So, when my granddaughter asked me to go roller-blading with her, I didn’t hesitate to say “Once upon a time, I’d take on that risk, but now, I value my body parts way too much to go there!” LOL!

And, I’m certainly not as free as a couple of my single girl friends who belong to a Travel Club where they travel all over the world and stay with folks they’ve never met before and are obliged to those people’s itineraries, meals and sleeping accommodations. But, yesterday, I did break out of my safe space when it came to using Uber. I’ve heard about Uber for some time now because I know many who use their transportation services and I’ve also heard the worth of Uber is in billions of dollars – another one of those genius ideas. Uber is an app-based transportation company that operates in hundreds of cities and over 60 countries. Using the app is easy: just type in your current location, where you want to go, and hit request. From there, Uber uses its app to receive its ride requests, sending them out to drivers who transport customers to their final destination.

For those like me who never tried to use Uber, let me share my experience. Because my kids had a much later flight out from Orlando to Dallas than me, I decided to give Uber a try. Larry gave me a quick tutorial, I downloaded the app, and I commenced to book my 30 minute travel to Orlando Airport at the time I needed it yesterday morning. I was still uncomfortable about this service where random (but pre-qualified) people use their own vehicle to move people about. I booked for 6:20 am which meant the drive had a window of 15 minutes to pick me up (6:20 – 6:35). At 6:10, I started receiving notices on a map that “Philip” in a Hyundai would pick me up in 11 minutes. BTW, I chose the most economical vehicle with an expected end cost of $21 to $28. A taxi ride was estimated at $62+, depending on traffic. The app showed me, virtually, Phillip getting closer to me by the minute. A very kind and considerate “Philip” arrived promptly at 6:31 in his very neat and clean Hyundai. He loaded up my bags and we were on our way. I asked Philip, who is retired, a lot of questions:

Me: “How long have you been working for Uber?”
Philip: “Five weeks. My daughter, who is a teacher, recommended it to me because she knows I like to drive and since it’s been a good add-on income producer to her teacher’s salary, she thought I might enjoy doing it too! Now she’s no longer having to borrow money from me anymore. And once I did several pick-ups, she received a bonus of $100 for referring me.”
Me: “How does it work? How are you paid? Do you just get tips?”
Philip: “No. We receive 75% of the charges; Uber gets 25%. And we get tips that are calculated when a customer books the ride.”
Me: “Is this a car you had or did you buy it just for Uber purposes?”
Philip: “I bought this car just for my Uber use because it gets about 37 mpg, and I had to buy an iPhone for the GPS usage. (He had it on a mount where the riders could see the route he takes.)

Philip was a cautious, safe driver and said he does a 4 am to 10 am shift where he’ll take people to work, to the airport, to doctor appointments, etc. At the end of a trip, he’ll press “Trip End” and the next pick up from Uber will show up. When he picked me up at 6:30 am, I was his 5th passenger that morning.

Me: Have you ever felt unsafe or concerned about anyone you picked up?
Philip: “No, because all passengers’ info is with Uber when they sign up for an Uber ride and they already know the range they will be paying for the ride. You can get an Uber ride by credit or debit card, PayPal or e-card. And the same is true for the drivers. You can feel safe because all our information is with Uber.”

Bottom line, not only did I have a great first experience with Uber, but “first timers” get at least $10 off their fare. So what would have been a $26 ride, was $16. Oh yes, I’ll do this again and perhaps, I just might use it instead of tackling Dallas traffic. By the way, if you’d like to try Uber (I found out when you refer a friend to Uber, you get a free ride and your friend gets a free first ride.) So, I'm referring my friends....here's my invite code -- use it when you want to try out Uber -- you and I will both get free rides. Here's my referral code for your first free ride! https://www.uber.com/invite/donnaw6980ue By the way, I gave Philip a 5-Star rating and I expect he gave me a 5-star rating. That's part of the security of Uber -- you can grade your driver and he can grade you!

So, there you go….and there I go. Saving when I can and enjoying the ride as I go. Once again, this widow, mom and nana has got game! I’m in it to win it – that is – this life…no excuses….no holds barred! Just like at the Disney parks with my family -- I rode every ride – crazy fast, spinning, dropping, push and pull of gravity of the Rockin’ Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror, Space Mountain and Test Drive…..and even went in for repeats. Like I’ve said before “I’m not giving up until I’m taken up and once I’m up….arrived at my heavenly destination, I’m sure I’ll be yelling at the top of my lungs “Wow!! What a ride!!!”

Maybe your concerns aren’t about an Uber ride, but maybe today, you’re doubting yourself, or even stepping out of your safe space -- on a job interview, speaking up at a meeting, asking that cutie for a date, or some other area that may cause you anxiety. Every time we step out in faith and resist fear, we grow a little stronger, experience more thrills and exhilarating times.

God is looking for believers who are so in love with him—soul, heart and mind—that the risk doesn't scare them—or if it scares them, they go ahead anyway! Regardless of what God is leading you to do, I can promise you it will be bigger than you are, and it will be risky. It will require you to live by faith and not by sight. It will test you and frighten you, but that’s where the blessing is, where the abundant life is. Don’t miss it. If God is for you, who can be against you?

Are You Draining Fast?

Day 42 of Photo Inspirations -- Are You Draining Fast?
This is my cell phone showing the new app that I added to help me save on my battery.  It helps me to keep my phone at optimal power….and all I have to do is to occasionally check it.  See all those apps on the right?   They are the power drainers and the app optimizes my phone by closing down those apps that are consuming the power.

That made me think about this amazing human computer that we are, and how God designed us for optimal performance – just like how Samsung manufactured my Galaxy Note 2 with optimal performance.  But as with my phone being overtasked… so do this bodies that God gave us.

Those power drainers that we face on a daily basis are the alarm clock not “alarming” and we’re late for work or an appointment, having to deal with traffic or a cranky co-worker or family member or the messy house or the to-do lists that we hardly get started with.    All these things are DRAINING us fast – and we need to go to a place of peace and quiet to recharge and optimize ourselves again.  What if we’re running at an unhealthy pace that doesn’t allow us to stop and consider our actions and reactions?

Without a doubt, our days are filled with energy drainers, but just like me putting an app on my phone to help save the battery, we need to do that for our physical bodies.  I found an article in WebMD that talked about the biggest energy zappers that keep us from optimal performance:  
1. Too much sugar
2. Caffeine -- keeps from getting a good night's sleep.
3. Exercise (Too Little or Too Much)
4. Dehydration -- we need water to keep our energy up.
5. Lack of Sleep
6. Bad attitude (In changing the way we think and act, we build an attitude force so strong that it will attract favor, opportunities, people, and dreams into our existence).
7. Clutter and Disorganization = being lethargic and lacking in energy and optimism.
8. Not Enough Food
9. Stress & Conflict -- try meditating, taking a walk, or breathing deeply and slowly.
10. Saying "Yes" too often -- Do you tend to do things that fuel you? Or do you find that most of your time is spent on activities that deplete you?

As for me, I rely on the battery charger of meditating on God’s Word that gives me energy and light.  I go to a place of refuge – of peace – away from the hustle and bustle – to the place of comfort and strength when I'm feeling drained.  It takes discipline to be still enough for the “full charge” to be back into my battery – but I have found that in doing so, I am good for handling all those applications until I need to re-charge again.
#Recharge #PowerUp