I think Garth said it best...

This past weekend, I was diagnosed with a virus.

I learned that I am suffering from a condition that seriously hampers my everyday life.

It’s called the Too-Much-Technology Flu.

And I’m suffering from the 24/7 strain of this dastardly disease.

(Okay, okay, I had to give away the punchline real quick because I didn’t want you to worry about me!) :)

But seriously—I am ALWAYS on the computer, online, on the phone, texting, or checking in. Can you relate at all?

Being a blogger and a person who talks on the phone for a living, this makes sense.

It’s sorta what I do. It’s how I gotta roll.

But this weekend, as I self-diagnosed my condition, I was reminded of something I hadn’t really understood since I lived in Costa Rica, which is this:

Life is so rich, in such a different way, when I have to check out from my normal way of doing things.

This weekend I was forced to check out.

I was on a camping trip in the middle of the middle of Montana. A big field set up for camping and a giant music festival.
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No charging stations. No Wi-Fi. No computer breaks. It was down a buncha dirt roads, in the middle of a field.

As you may have noticed, I’m in the midst of bringing the Wildheart Revolution to life.

Which requires a lot of Internet time.

So you might imagine that there was a slight-freak out when I realized I would be unconnected for four whole days. Without a way to charge my phone in case an Internet emergency happened (like for instance, someone had a question about the Wildheart Revolution and I wasn’t there to answer it immediately…GASP!)

And to be honest, I almost cancelled the trip for this very reason.

But I didn’t. And I’m so glad— because this weekend was filled to the brim with moments that the reminded me what living really is.

In a Too-Much-Technology Flu society, living a Wildheart life is what brings us together.

Because the Wildheart life is about anything but ‘business as usual’.

It’s about being present with people you love.

It’s connecting in a real way.

It’s giving yourself the space and time to breathe.

And take a break.

And to see your world in a different way.

It’s about taking a few extra moments in the morning to read a good book.

Or a few extra moments to say howdy to your neighbor.

To have a real conversation with whoever is in front of you because neither of you have any other place to be.

This is freedom.

And when I really started thinking about it, I realized that THIS is the reason I’m creating the Wildheart Revolution.

For us Wild Ones, it’s our home away from home.

Our metaphorical camping trip in the middle of Montana.

The place where we all get to go and enjoy our lives and be ourselves and be around likeminded people we love who all appreciate the same things.

Where we get a bit dirty. But offer each other washcloths and warm water.

Where we learn some new survival skills.

Where we stretch a bit beyond what we’re used to.

I don’t know about you, but as of today, my life isn’t structured such that I would want to live in the middle of a field all the time.

And I love that about my life. But I also know I need to be reminded to check out to return to my true nature, every now and again.

And this is the Wildheart Revolution.

It’s the place to go that is unlike any other place. The place to go to be yourself. And let go a little bit.

To put on that dress you’ve been meaning to wear all year and go out into a dirt field and dance to good music—only to look over and smile in appreciation at someone just like you doing the same damn thing.

It’s recognition. It’s tribe. It’s your way to check out while not giving up the things you love about your life.

(Yes, you really CAN have it all.)

As soon as I’m done unpacking from my trip (dust and dirt abounds!), I’m going to finish up whatever work I have and grab my book and head to the park. There is no reason I can’t have my camping trip all the time.

This is a Wildheart Life. And I’m inviting you to take part.

Won’t you join me?

We’ll dance ‘til dawn with Life, and shake the dust off our boots when we get home and plop down on our plump pillows.

(And yes, details ARE comin’ around the bend in two shakes of a lamb’s fuzzy backside appendage.)

If you’re game, make sure you leave your name on this sweet little list so I know how to get ahold of you to plan our next (virtual) camping adventure.

And now, Wildheart, do tell!

In what ways could you check out a bit more in your life?

How could you spend a little more time on the QUALITY of your connections rather than the quantity?

Could you take a friend out for coffee or drinks instead of commenting on her Facebook status?

Turn off Facebook entirely and look into your child’s eyes as she shows you that drawing she just made?

Or maybe curl up with a clock-stopping story and reconnect with the wild imaginative side of you that knows how to bend reality to meet up with your dreams?

As always, leave a comment and let me know what you’re thinking.

Can’t wait to hear from you (and your Wildheart spirit).

With just as much REAL LIFE gratitude, as internet appreciation,

Your Wildhearted Chief, Sally Hope

P.S. Don’t miss out when I open the doors to your Wildheart Revolution! Get your name on the VIP list and be the first in line to find out about the special honors I’m bestowing upon the Original Wild Ones. See you there!