LoveWorksStill

Have you ever been so dependent on something that you could not seem to shake the impact that it made in your life?  The absence of it made you feel like you were naked or alone?  I had an experience like that recently with my Apple Watch.  

I woke up each morning, grabbed my watch off the charger, wrapped it around my wrist to buckle it into the fourth groove, and proceeded on with my day.  At night time, I took it off right before getting into bed.  

Much of my day was recorded by looking at this thing.  My calories, exercise minutes, and standing hours are part of my daily goals.  Everyone who uses it for fitness is determined to close at least one, if not all, of their rings each day.  Repeatedly, I noticed that my watch was vibrating around 2 pm to notify me that there was only 10% of battery life left.  Going dead that early also meant that I would not be at home to put it on the charger before that happened.  All of my goals were now “SHOT”!

I quickly realized after multiple days of being mad at my watch that I had become so dependent on it.  It was now an idol in my life.  Materialistic things can get in the way of what is more important like relationships, proper self-care, and even family time.  In my case, I only felt that I was working out hard when I had the watch to validate my progress. 

My mom and I uncovered the truth about how this watch became an idol for me.  Too much of something can become an idol.  It wasn’t something I ever “needed”, but it was something I wanted.  It showed my progress and how hard I worked on any given exercise.  My daily routine began and ended with it. What was meant to help me ended up crippling me.  

But what the watch never told me was to rest.  It never said, “Take a day off”.  It never said, “You are pushing your body too hard.  Take it easy”.  It just always said, “Do it again today. Close all of your rings.  Yesterday, you only closed one.  Go for it”.   It constantly asked me to compare my numbers to another person’s.  

I did end up going about a week without the watch, and it felt amazing!  Before considering buying another one, I had to make a plan for myself.  If I have no plans of leaving the house, I would keep it off.  As soon as my workout is finished for the day, I will take it off sooner.   That gives me time to charge it and turn it off before bed. 

My watch was an unrecognizable idol that I created.  Surface for some, but a little more complex for me.  So I ask you, what or who have you allowed to be a part of your life far more than it should be?  

How will you work to change this? Or is it better to not go back once it dies?

Until next time, #loveworkswhenourwordsdont! 💚

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