Imagine waking up one day and realizing that you have just spent the last 25 years staring at screens. Nearly everything today is digital. Imagine how hard it is to focus on real world things and people when we live in a forever increasing tech driven world.
I find it almost impossible to stay present these days. If I’m not on my phone, I’m on my laptop. If I meet a friend for coffee, we’re also listening to music in the background. Even the freeway signs are displaying a witty digitalized message. When this is the world we live in, why does being “present in the moment” matter? Why not just live in the tech world? If you are able to communicate with your best friends using GroupMe while sitting a foot from each other, why interact in person at all? Why not sit in the comfort of your own bed and communicate with just your thumbs than make the effort to get up and get out of the house. Why have an important conversation face-to-face when you can write an email while multi-tasking?
Why are we living our lives the way that we are?
As a generation, we need to work on focusing our attention on what really matters. When somebody is talking to you, put your phone down. Give them your attention. If somebody is talking to you, while you are reading this article… STOP READING THIS RIGHT NOW! I would much rather you remember the connections you make and the conversations you have, than one article that you will forget about in an hour.
QUIT THE GLORIFICATION OF “BUSY.”
Stop making “busy” a thing. Yes, we have so much going on 24/7, but don’t be so busy where you don’t have a chance to stop, catch your breath, and smell the flowers.
This world would be nothing without the moments that are made. Regardless of the likes you get on a picture, you will have memories of the late night adventures and the goals that are accomplished.
Think of how many things you may be missing by not paying attention to the world around you. Imagine if you missed meeting your future husband because you were taking a selfie rather than making eye contact with the cute guy across the room. Imagine if you and a huge big-shot are both in the same room but you don’t get the networking because you look unapproachable with your head phones in. Texting while driving is not only incredibley dangerous but it creates a situation where you are not present—many times I have been checking my phone while driving and realize I don’t remember driving the last couple of miles.
We consistently get in a routine and stop paying attention to what surrounds us. Take a second and actually LOOK at what the buildings on campus look like, LISTEN to what your mom is saying, don’t just eat your favorite snack… take a moment to TASTE it. Break the routine of “going,” and be PRESENT.
As a generation that was raised with technology all around us, let’s all work on being more present. To be cliché, you really do only live once… lets make the most of our time and be present!