Hey Friend,
The Baal Shem Tov taught: “Where a person’s thoughts are, there they are entirely.”
Be honest: What’s the first thing you reach for in the morning? Yeah… us too. So, we’re starting the challenge here, with the hardest and simplest move.
This Friday night, before lighting the candles and enjoying Shabbat dinner, put your phone away. Not face-down, not on do not disturb. Away. A drawer works, or a bag in a closed closet.
The Torah names 39 ways to mindfully pause to make Shabbat a day that is different from the rest of the week — free of the pressures to work, make, or do. Today, most of those 39 can all somehow be found connected to our phones, which have a sneaky way of connecting us everywhere and, therefore, getting in the way of everything.
During Shabbat, we have an opportunity for introspection, presence, and turning toward what we love, which includes the liberation of turning away from our screens.
That’s the whole move this week.
Put the phone in the drawer and eat Shabbat dinner with whoever’s there. Notice how long it takes before you stop reaching for it. (For most of us, the research suggests it might be about 20 minutes. It gets easier over time.)
That’s it. Permission to Unplug asks for one physical act, repeated weekly, that anyone can do regardless of observance or Shabbat practice. You’ll be glad you did.
Make it a hands-free Shabbat.
The OneTable Team
P.S. However you’ll unplug on Friday, make sure to post your Permission to Unplug dinner by tomorrow night to get up to a $100 gift card.
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