In today's world, it's so easy to be overcome with everything that is going on. Almost everyone of us have the world at our fingertips, literally, that constantly keeps us connected with anyone and anything happening right down the road or thousands of miles away. While this can be an absolute blessing, it also can very quickly become a curse. It's not just our phones that have made it second nature for us to bury our emotions, struggles, feelings and lives, but the society we live in as a whole.

I know this is probably something you've heard a lot, but before I lose you to Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tinder or anything else that you probably refreshed two minutes ago,I'm asking you to stick with me for a minute. I promise it won't be too long, but I hope it at least challenges you to change, if only in a small way.

I want to paint a small picture for you quickly, which is probably familiar to most of you, sadly, as it is to me. You are with a group of your best friends, may be you haven't seen each other in a while, but you gathered together, it could be anywhere, eating a restaurant, sitting around a bonfire, hanging out on the couch, whatever it may be. How much of the hour or so was spent on your phones? I know I'm guilty of this as I know many others are as well, you're not alone at all. But when we really think about the time we spend with our friends, our family and anyone else in our lives it's crazy when you really think about what we are really focused on.

When we are with other people, even that we care so much about, we use a device that allows us to connect to different people, many of which we care less or don't care about at all. To me it makes no sense really, but our culture has taught us that this is a norm. It's kind of bizarre that it's so ridiculous because it shouldn't be, but it is. Our lives are amazing. We all have loved ones we cherish. Things we love to do. Places that make us so happy. I challenge you today to be thankful for the beauty around you that you can see, outside of your phone. There's beauty in the faces and sights in our lives and we take that for granted so often because our minds are busy thinking about different people and things in so many different places. Focus today on what is in your life and with you, in this moment.

I apologize for the ranting, but this has been on my mind for a while and tonight as I brain stormed and asked a friend what I should write about, she said living in the moment. I thought about it and realized that we don't really think about it. Focusing on the people and things going on right then in our lives have become second to whatever it is we have on our five-inch screen in our hand. It's summer. We don't have school or studying. Take time in the coming days to appreciate your life and the moments and people that make it special, I'm pretty sure the best memories you have didn't involve anybody staring at their phones.