My Tet Moment: 10 Days of Quitting Phone and Facebook Addiction

Unforgettable experience in 2024 - Photo: Ucenlist

At the end of the year, I was shocked to realize that my addiction to social media had become serious. At night, I often surfed the internet, immersing myself in useless information from all over the world. Many nights, I went to bed with red eyes and dizziness.

At my friend's invitation, I decided to temporarily disconnect from the virtual world and join a 10-day residential meditation course during the Year of the Dragon.

On the 28th of Tet, I went to do the paperwork. I turned off my phone and put it in the locker. Like a drug addict on a break without his drugs, I was tense and restless. Could I survive without my "inseparable" object? I thought about chatting with my friend but was caught in the "law" of silence.

Day 1

At 4am, the bell rang, more than 100 people quietly woke up, gently walked to the meditation hall. The daily routine: sit still - cross your legs - close your eyes - observe your breath. Simple! After 5 minutes, the pain, ants crawling and needles prickling all over your legs. Every time you close your eyes, countless images, sometimes sad, sometimes bright, from somewhere, come up and disappear.

During the morning break, I was exhausted counting how many areca nuts there were in the bunch. During the afternoon break, I counted how many petals there were in the chrysanthemums, how many rows of tiles there were on the floor... Feeling completely stuck, the idea of ​​giving up appeared. At night, I was agitated remembering the "status" I had read, remembering the "likes", the "share" button...

Day 2

The days seemed endless. Each moment dragged on like a century. Still more than 10 hours sitting observing the breath going in and out, fast or slow, shallow or deep… In the morning, I meditated with my eyes closed and dozed off. All day, the only joy was hearing the bell ringing for breakfast and lunch.

Unable to concentrate on the present, I am still restless with the future and thinking about the joys and sorrows of the past. Having become accustomed to a "dynamic" life, accepting a "static" life is not easy. After today, many people choose to stay, but some also leave.

The beauty of small flowers - Photo: THU NGUYEN

Day 3

Exactly on the 30th of Tet. New Year's Eve, fireworks exploded. Feeling lost, I walked up to the meditation hall in a daze. My mind was like a monkey constantly jumping from branch to branch, thinking about my ex-lover, dreaming about a new lover, sometimes remembering a messy argument online, sometimes some scandal in the entertainment industry... I was surprised to discover that my mind had been like a giant bottomless trash can for a long time. I don't know where I "collected" all the things in the world to "store", no wonder I always felt stressed and overloaded.

Day 4, Day 5

On the first day of Tet. For breakfast, the dining room had banh chung, making me feel more cheerful. I thought about my phone again, wondering if anyone had texted me a New Year's wish yet.

During lunch break, I opened my eyes and saw a puppy running around outside the door. Perhaps at this hour, that puppy is freer and more carefree than me. The 4th day has passed…

The back seemed straighter, the head clearer on day 5. Slowly observing the emotions that continuously come and go in the mind, everything from disappointment to hope; from rage to peace... Napping, pulling out the sunscreen jar to read the words. At least, there is something to entertain.

Day 6, Day 7

Today was a pretty serious workout. But still counting the minutes until day 10… Afternoon walk, white bougainvillea flowers were falling and fluttering all over the yard, the afternoon sunlight was also strangely beautiful. Day 6 has ended.

A new day, a solemn atmosphere surrounded the meditation hall. Still sitting silently for more than 10 hours observing and feeling all over the body. Resting for the night, going to count the stars. It has been a long time since I last calmed down to observe the stars near and far on a dark background.

The end of the meditation course - Photo: Ucenlist

Day 8, Day 9

The practice discipline was still strictly maintained. I asked to consult with the assistant Zen master. After her guidance, I felt more relieved... In the afternoon, I went for a walk and saw that the sky was bluer, the afternoon sunlight was golden like pouring honey. The flowers and grass around the garden carried a delicate fragrance.

Day 10

The "rule" of silence was lifted. The meditators were overwhelmed. But having been used to silence for so long, the process of re-integrating into the community was initially strange. My roommate and I hugged each other and burst into tears.

Morning of the 11th

We got the phone back. Strangely, the feeling of infatuation was gone. The phone was now simply a tool created to assist humans.

Experience this strange Tet 2024 as a rest stop to recharge your batteries throughout your youth journey.

After Tet, we get back on the train, moving forward with a more balanced and steady mindset. Perhaps, if some of the old habits of 2023 did not help you improve, 2024 is the best time to form new, more beneficial habits.

February 24 (full moon of the first lunar month) is the deadline for receiving entries for the contest "My Tet Moments"

My Tet Moments contest is an opportunity for readers to introduce the most beautiful moments and unforgettable experiences during Tet with relatives and friends.

Each article must be a maximum of 1,000 words in Vietnamese, and is encouraged to include photos, photo albums or videos .

Contest entries share ideal destinations and unique lands . Through your stories, you will help many people have the opportunity to know new lands and places that should not be missed when traveling during spring.

It could be an article recording the moments when friends and relatives gather, celebrate Tet and have fun together.

These are notes and recounts of personal experiences from trips and business trips away from home during Tet that you have experienced.

A photo contest that highlights the beauty of a place, place or region you have visited. This is an opportunity to tell about the vibrant colors and beautiful scenery of Vietnam or the countries you have visited.

From January 25 to February 24, readers can send their entries to khoangkhactet@tuoitre.com.vn.

The award ceremony and summary are expected to take place in March 2024. The prize structure includes 1 first prize (15 million VND in cash and gifts), 2 second prizes (7 million VND and gifts), 3 third prizes (5 million VND and gifts).

The program is sponsored by HDBank .

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/khoanh-khac-tet-cua-toi-10-ngay-cai-nghien-dien-thoai-facebook-20240221095651657.htm