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On Being Present

In December, I decided to deactivate my Facebook. It had become something that was no longer good for me. Each time I found myself scrolling, I almost always came away with sadness. Certainly by no fault of anyone else using Facebook, but  it was just difficult for me to see certain things. I realized that I didn't want or need to see posts about everyone else's lives. For someone who for too long has had low self-esteem, it had just become too much. I just wanted to focus on the here and now. I no longer wanted to feel like I was missing out. And I figured if I needed to know something, someone would tell me. It has been one of the best decisions I could have made, freeing in a way. I'll never go back. It's just not something I miss.

Almost a month ago, I just decided I needed a break from technology. I was finding myself becoming frustrated with people constantly looking at their phones while in the presence of others. I wondered if that's how I appear when I'm around people. I then deleted almost every single app off of my phone: Google, Gmail, Amazon, Etsy, all other shopping apps, my banking app, messenger. Now the only apps I allow myself to use are photo related so I can order photos from my camera, my weather app, the calculator, my Kindle app, my Spotify for music, and messages (for text messages). I love it. I can wait until after work to check my email, or my bank account, or Messenger, or Amazon, etc. all on my computer. I have a dumb smartphone. And it's wonderful.

Can we get back to the here and now? Do we need to be on our phones when we're with friends? Can we put our phones aside when we have company in our homes? Can we carry on a regular conversation with those around us instead of always looking at our phones?

I think we can, and I think it's truly beautiful. Be present, because this world is so beautiful. Let's talk on the phone when we're not surrounded by people who we can talk to in person. Let's not let our phone talk to us, don't let them hold us hostage. This life is passing quickly. Moments we will never get back are passing us by while we look at our phones, and I think we can do better.

Comments

Unknown said…
Jess, you're so right! Be present!
August 14, 2019 at 7:10 PM
Jess said…
Thank you so much!!!
August 15, 2019 at 7:11 PM
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