I know this, I really do.

This fact looms in my mind every time I think about something I’d like to share with the world.

And then I look around and see how much STUFF is out there. Online spaces are full of people writing their personal diatribes, reviews, opinions, Top 5 lists, stories, random posts, videos, and advice. Good stuff, but it’s noisy out there.

Almost invariably, this stops me in my tracks. I stop writing and feel an overwhelming sense to listen more, learn more, and know more. The next hour or two is then spent reading others’ stuff, clarifying my own thoughts, and figuring out how what I’ve learned applies in my life.

It’s at this point that I’m happy to know I’m not adding to all the stuff in the world. Like the abundance we have in physical stuff, we are bombarded by digital stuff. Perhaps A&E should develop a new series about digital hoarders – those of us with more RSS feeds and Facebook friend updates than we can ever hope to read.

(For those who ask me  – quite regularly in fact – why I don’t follow more people on Twitter, this is the reason: I actually want to read all of their updates. To know these people. To spend time listening to what they have to say.)

This probably limits my “personal brand.” I certainly can’t be called an active blogger and I don’t have thousands of loyal fans commenting on my every post.

At the same time, I’m not alone. Plenty of us share ourselves in online spaces. We learn more every day. We are inspired by others’ incredible insights. And we use those insights to form our perspectives, get work done, and manage our lives. We can participate in different ways, which is good.

Still, I have this nagging feeling that I should blog more. Perhaps at some point I will.

In the meantime, know that I’m listening. Building. Acting. Doing.

And, when I feel inclined, I’ll add more stuff in the world – when I have something to share that adds value. Not more noise.

For many people, I’m guessing this wouldn’t be a very big deal. For me, on the other hand, it was a pretty significant lifestyle change. A good experiment for me.

Now I’m back, so can share what I did and why.

Recently I left Best Buy after spending 18 years there. It’s been quite a ride this past year, as I struggled to figure out whether my personal career goals would align with the company’s direction. Now I know, for certain, that I will follow my dreams elsewhere.

Before I knew for sure whether I’d return to Best Buy, I wanted to take some time “off.” That is, without the regular Best Buy updates that I receive, and treasure, from my online community of friends. And without the self-imposed pressure to provide everyone with the latest updates from me.

You see, up until this month, my personal identity has been intermingled with the identity of the company. My work at Best Buy said a lot about me – that I am dedicated to my career. That I’m extroverted. Into technology. Kinda geeky. Energetic.

This provided a great introduction as I met new people — by saying I worked at Best Buy, I had an immediate conversation starter. The conversation itself varied. Sometimes, it was a discussion about our latest stock performance or company announcement. Other times, it was a story about a recent experience at a store, whether positive or negative. And – in Minnesota at least – it sometimes prompted a discussion about development along I-494, where Best Buy’s huge corporate campus looms large.

Even with old friends, these same conversations are common. Hugs are often followed by discussions about the latest buzz at Best Buy. Or maybe the latest gadget. Or my latest job responsibilities.

So now, I spent a bit of time figuring out what exactly I will say going forward. I’m still passionate about my career, love people, into tech, and have a ton of energy. But now I can’t encapsulate that into two words.My instant conversation starter won’t be there.

During my time “off,” I spent time with family and friends. I met new people and caught up with old friends. I read books. I cleaned the basement (or started to, anyway). I returned to some of my great loves: workouts, baking, and even a bit of oil painting.

And I missed all of you.

I haven’t really figured out my new conversation starters yet. I don’t yet have my business plan figured out for the next phase of my career. And my basement still needs work.

But, I’m inviting you back into sharing my journey. I took the time I needed to look inside. So now I’m back. Ready for new beginnings.

Our pre-8am workday started slowly, as we completed small odd jobs at the school and administrative offices. New carpets were installed last week, so our job was to move furniture back into the rooms and set up a few PCs. (Yeah, I can TOTALLY do that!). 

Then we organized some supplies and did some minor repairs here and there. We learned quickly that our hosts are busy people, too busy to babysit us! So if we want to really make a difference, we needed to identify a job to do, and after a quick consult with our Mendenhall friends, jump in and get it done. 

For lunch we ate red beans and rice with the kids at the school. It was satisfying but clearly meant for sustenance, not fine dining.  A good thing, as our meal was cut short when we were asked for more PC help at the pastor’s house. Word had spread that we knew about computers. 

So we tried to help email photos – 130MB worth – to the pastor’s daughter, who is serving in Iraq. We certainly didn’t have a magic solution for transferring such a huge file set using only webmail. (They resisted our recommendation for online sharing). So, multiple emails were our only option. It took quite awhile, but we kept entertained with a two year old hugging and climbing on us. 

In the afternoon, it was back to the school for more supply room organization projects. No one here really has time to figure out a good system for managing everything – pre-K through 12th grade – so we saw first hand how temporary solutions really lack long-term usefulness.

The conditions here are almost unbelieveable. Three years after Katrina, there are still abandoned homes overgrown with weeds. Buildings without roofs. Buildings with temporary plastic roof coverings, which people nonetheless call their homes. 

One of the Mendenhall buildings damaged by the 2005 hurricane has finally been repaired. But years of no water hookup, coupled with a sealed up building (lest it become a drug haven), have cause sewer odor to permeate. Without fresh air, this beautiful large daycare facility goes unused.

Looking back on today, I can’t help but notice how technology plays a role even in this poorest of towns. We saw four PCs, and fewer than four people who knew how to use them. These PCs were performing vital tasks and clearly were heralded for the value they brought, yet each one held much more power than their human counterparts knew.

A large sign outside the youth center said ABSOLUTELY NO CELL PHONES. I was surprised, but maybe shouldn’t have been. Prepaid phones are available to all. Mobile phones are ubiquitous. Even these families, with so little, make the investment.

We also saw the ever-present issue of electronic waste. There were old pcs and tvs that can’t be thrown out (’least that’s what we been told’) but have outlived their usefulness. With no good options for disposal. So they sit, taking up room in the cafeteria, principal’s office, supply closet – in any corner where they can be shoehorned.

And throughout the day, I used my online network (thanks Tweeple!) to find answers and get advice, nearly instantaneously. 

Technology truly is a facet of all our lives. So today – more than ever – I believe that what I do makes a difference. Not just right now, as I help debug a PC in a rundown office building, but every day that I help bring people closer to the technology that can improve their lives.