I remember travelling across the border to Boston back in my university days and being subjected to a thorough car search. When a gang of ramshackle youth are headed to Beantown, you want to be on ready. The border guard asked me in a curious way “So what exactly is Jane addicted to?” and it caught me off guard, until I realized that I was wearing a Jane’s Addiction t-shirt. I think I created some glorious Disney-esque story around a girl named Jane who loved life so much that even a simple flower possessed addictive powers. I had a feeling that the 50-ish uniformed man in front of me didn’t know that Jane really was the lead singer’s druggie roommate so I was in the clear.

I’ve always found t-shirts fascinating, as they give a glimpse inside the identity of the wearer. Many conversations have started on the basis of finding someone in a crowd who shares the same interest as I do. I guess you can think of them as the Twitter of the fabric world.

Yup. This one is on my list. Kinda speaks to how I feel.

It’s been a tough road in balancing my online life. I manage 3 twitter accounts and 3 blogs, take Buddhist classes, run the Girl Geek Dinners, coordinate Buddhist events, connect communities and am trying to negotiate what my next career move will be. Unemployment is a bitch but it’s helped me to put a lot into perspective.

These days I’m reworking my participation and consumption in the online sphere. I’m looking to bring back a balance in my life and reduce my digital dependence. As a Buddhist, I’m encouraged to evaluate what’s going on in my mind and examine feelings, attachments and emotions. I’m not doing this effectively these days and it’s time for me to start to cultivate these practices. I thank sites such as The Mindfulist and Zen Habits for being great supports on the path.