I gave myself the gift of social media silence.
A while back, I had a milestone birthday, and as part of the celebrations my husband and I went to Panama (yes, the one with the Canal, which is just as impressive as you think it is).
As part of that experience I turned off notifications for all apps except the one I use to keep in touch with my 84-year-old mum. We banned conversation about 47's harmful foolishness, and stayed away from other news as much as possible.
It was fabulous. We'd never been before, so we enjoyed several days of sightseeing, shopping, eating out, lounging by the pool and general relaxation.
I enjoyed reviving my rusty Spanish, and had a great conversation with a woman Uber driver about the role of Barbadians in building the Panama Canal (in case you didn't know, Barbados supplied 19,000 of the 31,000 non-European workers) and about the importance of Carnival (which was on while we were there) to Panamanian culture.
And unlike travel to the US or UK, I was never made to feel out of place and nobody told me to go back to my country. Without exception, the Panamanians I met were warm and lovely people, who were delighted to share a little bit of their country with visitors who were open to learning about it.
I'd love to go back for a longer visit to see and experience other parts of Panama beyond the city. And maybe to use it as a starting point for a trip to other parts of Central America and South America.
And as for the social media silence? It really was a gift. Our lives don't have to be ruled by mobile notifications (even if we think they're not, the fact that they come in steals some of our attention.) I've left most of mine off, so I can intentionally choose when to engage.
That in itself is a huge gift for this introvert.
The final benefit of the holiday? The inspiration that happens when you leave time to think. And thinking time is crucial, isn’t it?
Sharon Hurley Hall is an anti-racism educator, author of I’m Tired of Racism, and founder of the SHHARE anti-racism community and of Sharon’s Anti-Racism Newsletter, which provides tools and lived experiences to fuel systemic change. A seasoned professional writer and journalist, she leverages over 30 years of experience to mentor introverted leaders, and is co-founder and co-host of the Introvert Sisters Podcast. Her recent work focuses on helping Black and Global Majority women achieve high-impact visibility and professional influence without the exhaustion of performing extroversion.
© Sharon Hurley Hall, 2026. All Rights Reserved. This newsletter is published on beehiiv (affiliate link).