Quiet.. what is that? Between cell phones buzzing for texts, or social media notifications, the sound of the city, cars buzzing by, honking, and endless chatter, the sound of the bass rattling in the car next to you. We are all so busy now, and so stuck in it. I think we all have forgotten to cherish those quiet moments. Have you ever listened to the sound between music notes, or between rain drops. When you get to sit in a quiet room and just soak it all in.. When was the last time that happened? Or the sound of the wind blowing through the windows. I honestly can’t remember the last time I got to take advantage of that kind of quiet.
This day in age, we have to stay busy and occupied at all times. We have to pick up our phones, flip through social media, to be constantly connected at all times. I think now, I would like to be not so connected. To just take the time to unplug from everyone and just take time for myself, no selfies, no snap chats, no group texts, no nothing. Does that make you feel uncomfortable? Being just alone with yourself? When was the last time you unplugged from the world for while? There is actually a day of “unplugging” in March, that I think needs to happen a little more often, to bring back the beauty of life, to reset the personal batteries, or so that your eye stops twitching.
People are so concerned with being plugged in. For the fear of missing out? Or as it’s now referenced as FOMO. Is it because no one wants to be alone? Why do we need to be so involved with everyone else when life is happening right in front of our faces? I wonder if people notice that you follow the same people on all platforms of social media. You have Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Linked In, Tumblr, Pinterest, all following the same 100 friends, and same handful of celebrities. I don’t think much will change between platforms, in the span of 5 minutes, but for some reason, we all need to know. Even though I am too a victim of this, and it’s something I am trying to get away from. Also what I worry about is the up and coming generations. Because technology is just a part of their every day lives. Will they get to take a break? Is that some kind of standard that will have to be instilled in them, like stress management, or learning to care for themselves? Saying this actually makes me feel old, but I remember when the kindle came out. I am so happy I never bought one because I love the feeling of a book in my hands, and the smell. Technology continues to replace things that can carry some sort of sentimental value. Its almost a little scary. In college, in my journalism classes we were told how soon the paper newspaper would be obsolete, and now people are less subscribed to the physical paper and subscribed online to the online version. Because we are all in such a rush, and need information fast and in a hurry. To keep up with this instant demand that technology has made such a necessity in our every day lives.
As of recently I have been trying to wean myself off all this technology I have in my life. Maybe to better my sleep, or just to take a break for awhile, because every day at work I have screens in front of my face, for 10 hours a day. I have two computer screens on my desk, I have my work phone, and I have my cell phone. On my drive home it’s my radio and at home it’s the TV, or my Ipad. I leave my phone at night, to pick up a book to read. I am not checking any social media when I wake up anymore , or before I go to bed, and my phone is on do not disturb until I wake up in the morning. On the weekends, I try to leave my phone upstairs. I’m trying to create some kind of distance because I don’t want to miss out what’s going on in front of me. I can now appreciate when my dad would tell me to put my phone down and to be in the moment, and the times we were yelled at for checking our phones at the dinner table. To be there, involved in the time there together as a family. That’s all I want to be is in the moment, the right moment, with the right people. Unplugging from everything shouldn’t just be another day in the year. It should be an everyday effort. Maybe you will focus better, or see more value in shared information. I think we all could use a break from each other, and the technological world around us. I know I could use some quiet.
