This past weekend, I was sitting with my family and boyfriend in a local restaurant, watching the Olympics opening ceremonies while waiting for our food. Merely watching the Olympics awakens your senses -- you identify a sense of pride for yourself and your country (or maybe your sport), can see the vivid colors and creative costumes for your eyes, and others cheering and encouraging their teams to do their best. But, we noticed something else, aside from the costumes, athleticism and bikes.
A good portion of the Olympians were walking through the opening ceremonies with a phone in their hand.
So, maybe that does not sound incredibly odd or out of place, but just think about what they are experiencing at that very moment. These athletes are in the midst of the most important days of their lives, but are more focused on capturing it for the camera. Yes, I realize many may have been live streaming to their countries, but not 15 people from one team (or, there is no need to do so). These people who have worked so hard to get to where they are, have become more focused on documenting the process than living it. Between the paid photographers and spectators, there is always someone else filming the events, and someone else can capture the moment for you.
With the release of Pokemon Go, you can see the same thing. Kids and adults alike are more interested with playing this game and capturing the many Pokemon than actually looking at their surroundings, or even attempting to find a job. People are walking into roads and nearly falling into rivers in hopes of furthering their success in the game, but aren't taking in the beauty of where they are.
Driving down the highway, you can't go a mile without passing people who have been driving irradically and realize it is because they are messing with some form of technology. Everyone sits and messes with the radio, their GPS, texts people back, or is engaged in a phone call while driving. It is so consuming that it almost feels as if any form of silence is forbidden.
We have all allowed technology to take over our lives. I am guilty of this too, of course, but recently I have tried to become more aware. I have tried to make sure my phone is away when I'm having a conversation with someone, at dinner, or even just walking my dog. We are in an age of constant technology and busyness, where we decide to watch Netflix for a spare moment instead of taking in everything surrounding us.
The point is, make sure you are actually living in the moment. Don't miss watching your children grow up or the fun of going out in college because you are so immersed in capturing the moment to look back on. Believe me when I say, if you spend all of your energy living in the moment, you will have no need to look back at the videos you took to remember every detail.
