{source: my flickr}
Hello 2012.
Happy new year to you, lovelies.
I know my New Year’s wishes come a little late. I had a fantastic time back home and as you may have noticed, I took a little, kind of involuntary, digital sabbatical over my vacation and ended up not really checking email, Twitter, Facebook and blogs at all. I had thought that I might have time to do so in the evenings, but man, my days were filled to the brim and I hardly had time to get enough sleep in, because I was too busy soaking up every last second of time with my family and friends. This was definitely not a sleeping in-kind-of-vacation. I mean, who am I kidding, it’s never a sleeping-in-kind-of vacation when I visit home.
After the first two days of feeling major withdrawal from being ‘unplugged’ (I mean, I couldn’t stop thinking about what I might be missing) I actually started enjoying my time away from the Internet. Who knew that was possible? Heh. It definitely gave me something to think about, namely how I want to spend my time in 2012.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the Internet and the whole online community, but it can be overwhelming at times and I gained a new appreciation for just “being in the moment” and not caring about what other people miles and miles away are doing at any minute of the day.
2011 was not the greatest year for me and as I know from others, it kind of sucked for them as well. Besides moving into our new apartment and the great summer trip with my parents, there was a lot of not so pleasant stuff going on that I really want to leave behind me.
This year, however, has started off on a very positive note and I can only hope it will continue like this for me and the people I care about (and everybody else, too). I am not really someone who makes New Year’s resolutions, because I think you can and should make changes when they become necessary, not bound to a certain date on the calendar. Still, I do like the thought of starting fresh and January, 1st is as good a day as any for this and sometimes the universe seems to need a fixed date as well to turn things around.
For those of you, who are eagerly awaiting my recap of Christmas and New Year’s in Germany, be assured, I’ll get to that very soon. Since I just returned on Sunday night and went back to work yesterday, I haven’t gotten around to uploading all my photos and writing recaps, but I’ll get to that in the next couple of weeks.
I am glad to be back!
Heike
January 11, 2012 at 8:54 amI hear you…..we quit Facebook (I never used Twitter) month ago and we LOVE it. It is about spending more QT with whomever! We never regretted it and after I read your post I think you know what I am talking about!
All the best for 2012! FROHES NEUES aus LA
Heike
Maribeth
January 11, 2012 at 9:05 amWelcome home, San. I have missed reading you! I look forward to hearing more!
Holly
January 11, 2012 at 9:17 amWelcome back!
Antje
January 11, 2012 at 11:43 amYay to fresh starts on a very positive note and leaving the unpleasant behind! Wishing you and your loved ones a great 2012!
Nilsa @ SoMi Speaks
January 11, 2012 at 11:46 amWelcome back, happy new year’s and all that good stuff! Sounds like your trip to Germany was exactly what it was supposed to be. It’s funny, another blogger posted about the things she does and doesn’t do related to social media. She talked about blogging, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram. I sort of blankly looked at her list … thinking, if I spent all that time doing social media things, I’d never live life! (So, head nod to the time suck these things can be.) I keep my online presence pretty simple. Blogging and Facebook. And I never feel guilt for taking a break from either. Neither should you!
Stina
January 11, 2012 at 12:42 pmglad to have you back! and it’s wonderful to hear that you’ve had a lovely holiday! i know, unplugging once in a while is really good for you, and it’s scary how hard it is those first few days without that internet “fix”.
now, let’s make 2012 a fantastic year!
Suburban Sweetheart
January 11, 2012 at 12:57 pmHello, hello, & welcome back! Looking forward to reading your Germany recaps – and to a much better 2012. <3
Chrissy
January 11, 2012 at 1:16 pmWelcome home, sweet friend! Can’t wait to read and see all about your trip home! Hugs xxx
Stephany
January 11, 2012 at 2:09 pmOne of my “resolutions” for 2012 is to take a digital sabbatical once a month. I’m planning my first one for this weekend and actually really excited about it! Getting away can be SO good for the soul. I know I tend to get way too caught up in it sometimes.
Happy to have you back!
Stevie
January 11, 2012 at 2:41 pmWelcome home! I’m glad you had a great trip back home – sounds like you were able to enjoy yourself more by being unplugged. I think it’s incredibly important for our well being to do that every once in awhile.
Ashley
January 11, 2012 at 3:57 pmGlad to hear 2012 is going well so far. Welcome back!
justrealhappy
January 11, 2012 at 4:43 pmSometimes, it’s good to get away…literally and figuratively. Welcome back.
Kathrin
January 11, 2012 at 11:07 pmHi San, welcome home again! Glad everything went well… no unwanted days stranded somewhere else because of snowstorms ;))
Manderz
January 11, 2012 at 11:11 pmSo wonderful to hear you had a great trip. I think vacations are the perfect time to unplug. Can’t wait to hear what you did.
Eleni Zoe
January 12, 2012 at 1:38 amGlad to have you back! I can’t wait for you to tell us all about your vacation. Happy new year, honey!
lauryn
January 12, 2012 at 6:06 amThe best part about taking a break from the internet is that it’s all waiting here for you when you return, no matter how long of a break you need. I can’t wait to hear more about your time with your family! I’m sure it was absolutely wonderful! Happy, happy 2012!
Susa
January 12, 2012 at 6:14 amAll the best for the new year, San!
Yep, 2011 wasn’t a good year- but 2012 will be good. :)
Melissa
January 12, 2012 at 8:20 amGlad to have you back in the blogging world! Sometimes a digital break can be SO nice (after the withdrawal of course!) and you’re so right, coming back to it after a break really CAN be overwhelming. That’s definitely how I felt while I was in Greece. My Google reader had skyrocketed into the 700 unread blog post count and I didn’t think I’d ever recover!
Anyway, all the best for 2012 and I hope it’s a better year for us all! :)
JustMe
January 13, 2012 at 2:27 pmMan, I just went to my parents’ house – never mind across the ocean.
I can’t believe you didn’t go insane traveling during the holidays for THAT long…
terra
January 14, 2012 at 7:16 amWelcome home! We definitely missed you and can’t wait to hear about your adventures in Germany.