Good Adults Don’t Live Their Lives Through Their Phones
I’ve been feeling these days that my phone has taken over my life, which is an issue most people seem to have these days. We have no tolerance to boredom any more and every moment of our free time is spent watching content which adds little value to life.
Moreover, we have become the product sold by all social media. Eyes on a screen every single hour of each day scrolling through ads which promise you’re just one purchase away from being exactly who you want to be. This might sound a little dramatic but I feel like most people aren’t aware of the power social media has on them.
As I’m writing this, my phone calculates I spend and average of four hours on my phone each day and I know for a fact I’m not one of the worst ones. I have constantly been around people I’m having a conversation with who can’t keep their attention for longer than two minutes. This not only with my friends but with people I work with who ask me questions but don’t ever bother to listen to the answers.
As the movie “When We Where Young” put it, being rude has become the new normal. When someone decides to look at their phone at a meeting or dinner table, it’s the cue for all others present to take out their phones too. We have forgotten what it’s like to be around each other without having the ability of checking out whenever we feel like it.
In addition, our phones allow us to look into other people’s ideal versions of themselves and have us think that those versions are not really far from the truth. Envy is the modern world’s biggest commodity because we will forever be striving to look or be a certain way which in reality is non-existent.
It has now become common to see artists at their concerts asking people to put their phones away, to be present and in the moment because you’ll never live through that exact same experience again. Just a few weeks ago I went to see Sam Smith at a festival and his introduction was a request to have the stars be the only lights to accompany his show. Although a beautiful analogy, it did little in getting people to stop themselves from recording his show just so that they could tell others that they where there.
I feel like we have become people who only do things for others to see. Different youtubers have stated that they go to Coachella, not because they can see their favourite artists but because it’s a place where you can get pretty pictures and that to me summarizes how broken our motivations are these days.
We no longer wish to be happy, but to seem happy to others. To have what we do be validated by others. To show how much of what we have or get to do others can only dream of. If we spent a fraction of that energy trying to become the best versions of ourselves in reality, our impact on the world would definitely be a much more positive one.
Go out there and live your best possible life, away from all the curious eyes and see if when no ones watching, you’re really doing the things you enjoy most. It’s time to take a long hard look at yourself and wonder if your phone was taken away, would all the things that provide satisfaction would be taken away with it.
Do you have an actual hobbie or friends you can go out with and enjoy a conversation a fluid conversation. Do you feel the people around you enjoy your company and have you actually been paying attention to what they say to you. When was the last time you completed a task without interruption and can you still focus your undivided attention on something or do you find yourself struggling. Ask yourself these questions and come back to me. I’m pretty sure you’ll be surprised.
“Open your eyes, concludes the man, and see what you can with them before they close forever.” Anthony Doerr - All The Light We Cannot See
To the lady who's never been absent on almost all my endeavors, happiest birthday! You may be quite far now (Carcar ✈️ Lapu-lapu) but as tita as we are, I'm glad we haven't disconnected our signals since then. You already know what I always thank you for, the moments that were never wasted when you are instantly there to carry on life with me. #yaknowit and your sub has always been a good one though @rrcmaningo ❤ Hopefully finding my perfect substitute won't take you that long. He might just be around the corner, cooking some stuff. 😂 Well who says I'm breaking the tradition? @paulinejane_m, you're next! But this time, photos show how #goodadults we've become. Let's see what's in store for you guys next year! 🤔 Nyahahahha Happy birthday @pearlydondondon! I wuv you 💖 #longmessagebirthdaytradition https://www.instagram.com/p/BsVgOkfFz2I/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=qaauoi9s2ml1
