Before the big reveal, I just want to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who took the time to complete my recent survey. It was enormously helpful, and I truly appreciate every response.
Being Jewish, the number 18 has always held a special place in my heart.
In Hebrew, the word chai (חַי) means life, and the Hebrew letters that spell chai have the numerical value of 18.
Growing up, whenever I received money as a gift, it was almost never a $20 bill. Instead, it was $18, $36, or $54.
It wasn’t because my relatives were cheap. (Well… they were Jewish, but that’s a different newsletter.) It was because 18 symbolizes chai—life—and every gift came with a little blessing attached.
Which brings me to this week…
I was supposed to be attending Dr. Nedley’s 12-day residential program, where participants hand over their phones for the entire stay. During our recent interview, Dr. Nedley explained how too much screen time can negatively affect the frontal lobe, especially for people struggling with anxiety or depression.
Since I thought I’d be phone-free for nearly two weeks, I decided to get a head start.
On June 1st, I intentionally stepped away from social media.
I still post occasionally because I want to keep my accounts active, but I rarely look at anyone else’s content anymore. No Facebook scrolling. No Instagram rabbit holes. No mindless YouTube browsing.
Then, after four incredibly fun days of improv workshops last week, I decided to check my iPhone’s Screen Time.
I looked for Facebook.
It wasn’t there.
Instagram?
Gone.
YouTube?
Missing.
For a moment I honestly thought my phone was malfunctioning.
Then I discovered something I never knew…
If your screen time for an app is zero, it doesn’t even appear.
It turns out the fastest way to make social media disappear… is to stop looking at it 🤣
The only app that showed any significant time was the New York Times Games app—a wonderful gift from Heather McDougall.
Every morning while I’m riding my spin bike, I play Wordle, Pips, Connections, Spelling Bee, and several of the other games (except for Sudoku) with Chuck Carroll and a few friends. We compare our scores every day.
Total screen time?
Exactly 18 minutes. Every day.
I had to laugh.
The same number that represented life throughout my childhood had somehow found its way back into my life.
Not because I’m living on my phone…
But because I’m living off my phone.
Life is walking my dogs.
Life is creating new recipes.
Life is making glass art.
Life is meeting new friends at a vegan potluck.
Life is laughing until my stomach hurts.
Life is calling someone you love just because.
Life is watching a spectacular desert sunset.
Life is taking an improv class that scares you a little.
None of those moments show up in Screen Time.
Because the best parts of life happen off the screen.
We spend so much of our lives measuring the wrong things.
Followers.
Likes.
Views.
Notifications.
Hours spent scrolling.
But maybe the better question is this:
How much of your life did you actually live today?
Maybe Screen Time isn’t measuring how much you use your phone.
Maybe it’s measuring how much you’re using your life.
My screen time says 18 minutes.
To me, that’s not just a statistic.
It’s chai.
It’s life.
If God could take a day off, maybe Facebook and Instagram can survive without us for one.
Turn off your phone.
Take a walk.
Call a friend.
Hug your dog.
Cook a healthy meal.
Create something beautiful.
Watch a sunset.
Go live your life.
🐾🦴🐶From The Puppy Files🐾🦴🐶
We’ve been sleeping on an Aerobed on the floor for three months because apparently nobody in the desert knows how to set up a waterbed anymore!
Well… we finally have our bed back, and I don’t think anyone is happier than Shiloh.
As for Trixie…
She somehow managed to get her entire snoot stuck inside a peanut butter jar.
Apparently she believes if her nose fits, her whole body should follow.
I love these two more than words can express.
Honestly, when I get scared about my cancer, one of my prayers is:
“Please don’t let me die… I have puppies!”
I know every dog lover reading this understands exactly what I mean.
What I Did For Fun This Week
I spent four straight days taking improv workshops, culminating in my very first live performance at CV Rep Theatre.
I promise it was much funnier than these photos make it look!
On the drive home from Los Angeles, we made a stop that gluten-free vegans dream about.
Chef Tanya told me about a bakery in Pasadena called ID Eclair https://id-eclair.com/, and WOW…
I’ve been vegan for 49 years, and honestly that part has never been difficult.
Being gluten-free, on the other hand…
That’s another story.
These were, without exaggeration, the best desserts I’ve ever eaten.
Authentic French pastries that just happen to be vegan and gluten-free. Authentic Napoleons and Macaroons!
Then came a raspberry fruit tart, a pistachio éclair, and my personal favorite – a hazelnut buttercream éclair.
I also had a grilled “cheese and bacon” sandwich with avocado on garlic toast and a wonderful tomato soup.
Yes… I ate dessert first.
No regrets.
I’m hoping to have Chef Romy on Chef AJ LIVE because his talent deserves to be shared.
And as if amazing pastries and four days of improv weren’t enough…
I’m finally getting the hang of glass fusion!
This piece, made with glass stringers, is my favorite one yet.
Thanks for spending a little of your precious time with me this week.
Now go spend the rest of it living.
Love & L’Chaim (לחיים) — To Life!
Chef AJ