Text messages. Missed calls. Snapchats. GroupMe messages. Instagram likes. Twitter mentions. Facebook posts. All of these and more are what are filling up our lock screens, or better yet filling up our lives.
The advancement of technology and cell phones allows us to literally hold a computer in the palm of our hand, which is truly incredible. But with more and more being added the phones these days, it's causing our society's basic social skills to dwindle. What has happened to actually talking about each other's lives instead of posting on Twitter about it? What has happened to listening to a concert without Snapchatting the whole entire thing? What has happened to watching the sunset without taking the perfect picture to Instagram? What has happened to simple conversations in person instead of texting? The world has become a place completely sucked into the technological bubble, and we are continuously checking our phones out of habit to make sure we don't miss out on an occurrence that happens in a friends' life, because how dare we find out the next day when we see them in person when we can see it on their Snapchat story right now??
We get upset over people not responding to text messages, certain people liking people's pictures, "subtweets" and broken Snapchat streaks. Tragic. We get so caught up in our lives put out there on social media that we forget to live the life that is right in front of our eyes. So, let's make a change. Let's start hanging up and start hanging out.
Let's start being present in the world instead of filming it. Let's stop living looking through the screen of an iPhone camera. Let's start talking to people in person instead of over text. Let's put the phone down when you are with someone. Let's stop posting every little event in our lives on social media. Let's start being more present. Overall, God has given us a beautiful life and it is up to us to go out there and live it. Pictures and videos won't last, it is the memories you have that will last a lifetime! Think of how much more enjoyable life would be if we didn't have to worry about what people are going to see later on the internet. I feel we will start to see the beauty of life more and see what it really means to LIVE.
Now, don't get me wrong, I am overly guilty of this. It takes everything in me to not pick up and check my phone whenever I feel it vibrate. I have a fear of missing out on something important and want to be able to know it all. I am a picture fanatic, so I am always wanting to take pictures and post them. It isn't supposed to be easy to hang up for a while, but I feel it is necessary in order to see all that this life has to offer. Also, I'm not saying everyone go throw your phones into the ocean and to stop using technology overall, I just feel we need to start using it more wisely and we need to see the life that the Lord has beautifully laid out for us to be a part of. Wouldn't it be terrible if we missed out on being part of His kingdom?
So, next time you're out with friends put the phones down and actually enjoy each other's company. Next time you see that beautiful sunset, take a quick picture and then just look and soak up the beauty of God's creation. Delete your social media for a week, see how it feels and how much more present you will be! It is a great big world out there, it's time we start living in it instead of filming it.
