Daily prompt–2114

If I’m honest…
this past year, since Liam died,
I’ve been online more than ever before.

Searching.
Reading.
Listening.
Connecting.

I’ve read every article I could find,
listened to YouTubers following the case,
and even looked through court transcripts —
including the defamation case Roger Nores filed
against Geoff Payne, Liam’s dad.

I’ve joined justice groups
and met people from all around the world
who, like me, want truth, answers, dignity —
justice for Liam.

So yes, screens have taken up a larger space in my life.
But for me, it hasn’t just been “screen time.”
It’s been purpose.
It’s been community.
It’s been a way to feel less helpless
and more connected to something bigger than myself.

And at the same time…
I do have a life beyond my phone and tablet.

I am a full-time caretaker
for my bedridden husband
after an accident 2½ years ago.
That alone anchors me deeply
into the physical, emotional world —
the world of presence, touch, and daily care.

So in a strange way,
my screen time has become
a kind of healing too.
A way to grieve a loved one who is gone…
and a loved one who is still here,
but not the same.

As an astrologer,
I use my phone and tablet to cast charts —
you won’t find me calculating by hand,
I hate mathematics, lol.
(Thank the stars for apps!)

But when I channel spirit,
I go old-school —
pen and paper.
The pages become a bridge.

It’s the same when I write lyrics —
they often begin by hand,
and if inspiration hits while I’m out,
my phone’s notes app becomes my little vault.

Most of my long blog posts
are born on paper first.
It feels more intimate,
more honest,
like the words come through
before I have time to judge them.

(And then, later,
I go back and fix the grammar —
English isn’t my first language, after all.)

So how do I manage screen time?

I don’t measure it in hours.
I measure it in purpose.

If the screen helps me:
learn
connect
advocate
create
or simply breathe…

then I welcome it.

When life calls me elsewhere,
I go —
to care for my husband,
to swim,
to be with my children,
to rest,
to live.

Balance isn’t always perfect.
But it’s real.

💫 Sometimes the screen takes me away from the world…
and sometimes it gives me the strength to face it.

⚖️♾️🦉
💫~ Maggie
The Afterlove Voice💫