🌿 Rooted and Real: Balancing Old-School Soul with New-School Convenience
I’m not sure if it’s a full-on PNW thing (or just me) but I’m a mix of old school and new school.
I appreciate so many modern conveniences. I love that I can organize my blog in Google Workspace, that I can take notes on my iPad and watch them magically turn into text I can Airdrop to my computer, and that I can borrow audiobooks from our local library while I fold laundry.
But at my core? I’m still pretty old school.
I love the feel of a pen in my hand.
I love the quiet satisfaction of crossing something off a sticky note.
I love the weight of a book in my lap, the way turning a page slows me down in a way scrolling never could.
💻 Where Tech Works for Me
When I was in grad school, I figured out my perfect balance:
I bought eBooks so I could read on my phone or laptop anywhere (no heavy textbooks, no extra storage).
I took handwritten notes on my iPad so I never lost a notebook.
Now, as a blogger, I rely on Google Workspace to organize drafts, content calendars, and big-picture planning.
And lately, I’ve been loving audiobooks borrowed from our library, especially for long walks, cleaning, or laundry-folding sessions.
📝 Where I Stay Old-School
But just as much as I rely on technology, I keep coming back to the basics:
Handwritten notes that help me remember better than typing ever could
Sticky notes on the counter or fridge… sweet, tangible reminders for myself or my family
Journaling with pen and paper to get to the heart of what I really want to say
Paper books from the library because nothing beats the feel of pages in your hands
🌱 Why the Balance Matters
There’s something special about writing by hand. Research even tells us that handwriting improves memory and processing, and I’ve noticed over the years how increasing screen time has impacted fine motor skills in students.
Technology is wonderful, but slowness has its own quiet magic. The act of writing, reading from a page, and creating with our hands helps us feel more present.
🌿 How I Blend Old and New
I’ve learned to let each have its place.
I’ll jot notes in my journal and outline posts digitally.
I’ll buy eBooks and check out a paper book just because I want to hold it.
I’ll use my iPad to handwrite a blog post draft and then watch the app transform my words to text I can send straight to my laptop.
It feels good to have both… to appreciate how far we’ve come, without losing what grounds us.
🫶 Modeling the Balance
Our kids need to see both, too.
Let them watch you set a timer on your phone, but write a thank-you card by hand.
Borrow an audiobook for the drive and still read aloud from a picture book before bed.
Make room for convenience and for slowness. Show them that rooted living isn’t about rejecting new tools… it’s about choosing what adds value.
🌧️ Rooted Living in a Digital World
Technology will always keep moving forward. But we can still hold on to the quiet joys of pen on paper, dog-eared books, and sticky notes that make us smile when we see them.
Convenience is wonderful.
But slowness isn’t outdated.
It’s just… rooted.
With heart,
Margaux
🌱 In the rain, we root. In the wild, we grow.
