I was driving home from a long day at the office and chatting on my cell phone to get my mind off the parking lot of cars on the road ahead, when something rather disturbing occurred to me. My evening commute used to be an opportunity for me to reflect'to consider the day's challenges and to dwell on the bright spots, to set goals and ponder strategies to achieve them. It was time for me to be with me!

In fact, it was one of the rare times during the day where I could shut out distractions and have some much needed me time. Now that we have the incredible ability to always be connected to others, I seem to have sacrificed something even more important, my personal time. I don't want to live life on a treadmill with no time to catch my breath or reflect on what's important. This cycle is something I continually coach real estate agents on. I was shocked to see evidence of it in my own life."? "?

So"I embarked on a challenge. I would go one full week without picking up my cell phone when I got into my car. My first instinct was to fill the dead air with radio. But I decided against it. That distraction would only undermine my goal. A goal that, I would soon discover, wasn't as easy as you might expect.

The first day I was lost. It sounds ridiculous, but I felt as though a part of me was missing. Suddenly, the list of phone calls I needed to make at the end of the day was a mile long. My anxiety and frustration swelled. Personal reflection was non-existent. The second day was a little better, but not much. By the third day, however, something interesting began to happen. I started thinking. At first about little things'movies I wanted to see, books I wanted to read. But then my thoughts became larger in scope. I deliberated over goals I wanted to achieve, personally and professionally. Questions were surfacing that had long been buried'important questions that deserved my attention and answers.

So what's the takeaway? Now, I've started thinking twice before I pick up the phone or turn on my computer to kill some time. But it's always a choice and a daily effort. You see, more and more I'm realizing just how easy it is to let the little things that are right in front of me get in the way of the bigger things that are so much more important. My goal is to be consciously present with myself.

Respond to me when you can. I'd love to hear more thoughts on this challenge that reflects our life and times.