Don't you ever wish you could leave the house and tell your parents "I'll be back at sunset?" However, in today's world there is no such thing as being "unreachable." Today, there is texting, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Your parents will shoot you a text if they need to reach you. Privacy no longer exists. Safety wise, this is a huge plus. However, there is something nice about being able to go somewhere and be unreachable and just enjoy the moment, interruption free for a couple hours.

I will be the first to admit that I spend way too much time on my phone and just being near my phone in general. It has become an extra body part that is attached to me wherever I go. It's a crutch in social situations where I may not know anyone. These things I would not say are positive aspects of having a phone. This constant need to feel "connected" to people I wouldn't say is a bad thing, but it can become unhealthy at times. I have recently been challenging myself to spend time away from my phone completely. To not even have it in the same room as me. I have found that doing so, I am more productive and am able to enjoy the moment and conversations that surround me. I don't think there is anything wrong with staying in touch with people, posting pictures and capturing moments and memories, but I do think it becomes a problem when it's stopping you from creating quality memories.

My second cousin recently told me what he does with his friends when he goes out. They all make a tower with their phones at the center of the table and the first one to touch their phone pays for everyone's meal. Is that incentive or what? I thought this was a really awesome idea. Nothing is worse than hanging out with friends and they aren't even paying attention to the conversation, making you as a result, feel like they don't care about what you are saying.

I am not bashing the idea of technology itself. Staying in touch with people would not be possible without all the various social media platforms. However, social media has taught people to seek reassurance. How many likes am I getting? Why don't I have as many friends as her? Why doesn't my body look like that? Why don't I have a perfect relationship like that? Relying on social media to find value in yourself and reassure yourself, in my opinion, is the number one cause of insecurity.

I encourage you to have a social media cleanse. Go through your friends list and unfollow anyone who isn't someone you would invite to your wedding or someone who provides positive energy in your life. Be picky! There is extreme power in having the ability to say no to something. Not everyone deserves to play a role in your life and in your own self-love and self-growth process.

Finally, I challenge everyone to watch more sunsets than Netflix. To laugh with friends more than you are texting them. Life is a very precious gift and we owe it to ourselves to remember exactly how those amazing, "I love life", "I feel alive" moments felt. I know I don't want to miss anything...

xoxo

T