Here’s a short post about something that I had to do recently and what I “gained” from the experience. For reasons that are complicated, I had to “get back on the grid so to speak” and take my iPhone XR out of Silent Mode along with turning off my Scheduled “Do Not Disturb” time frame. I also had to allow unknown callers to NOT be sent directly to my voicemail. Sounds barbaric doesn’t it? Yes...the Internet “hose” had to be turned on “all the way!” And I’m here to tell you that it was brutal!

I have become so used to ONLY getting notifications that I want sent directly through my Series 6 Apple Watch. Having to hear my phone “ding” and “ring” every time something (or someone) was trying to get ahold of me during this time frame (only 2 days mind you) was really annoying but I really did not have a choice.

As the time approached to “turn off the hose” got closer and closer, I imagined where I would be when I could finally initiate the process. I imagined what it would feel like to lock my phone down again. In true “Tony Style,” I did it before I thought I’d be doing it. I couldn’t resist. I was literally going insane with the “hose” turned on, “all the way.” Fortunately, circumstances lent themselves to me doing so. A sense of calm washed over me and I took great pleasure locking the phone back down...returning to JUST getting THE notifications I want...on my own terms.

In line with my yearly theme, “The Year of Gain”...this experience has helped me gain a deeper appreciation for the mental silence my phone affords me...when it is silent! It is my hope that it is a l-o-n-g time before I have to ever have to do something like this again.