We have turned into a people of consumption, so much so that we have a hard time not filling our entire day with it. The downside (well, one of the many) is that we have left little to no room for waiting, quiet contemplation, and thought.

I realized, during that stretch, the creative power of unplugging from phones, computers and television for periods of time. It seems like it should be the opposite. Removing all the inspiring artists and material from under our noses should be like unplugging a lamp from a light socket—an immediate loss of energy, but unplugging for a time triggered creativity. Out of the screen silence came new thoughts. I wanted to write, cook, create, and dream. And I don’t think it was a fluke.