Jealousy. Bragging. Excitement. Habit. They all have one
thing in common. They are the reasons why Generation Y is so
obsessed with social media. The average person checks their
phone every six minutes for goodness sake. I won’t deny that
I just looked at my phone — not from a notification, just to
look. Maybe it’s F.O.M.O., maybe we are addicted. Either way
(or if we’ve fallen victim to both) something needs to change.
We only have five more minutes before the cycle repeats itself.
There is a comedy sketch by Louis CK where he brings
awareness to the fact that most modern-day parents are missing
out on their kids events and achievements because they are too
busy trying to get the perfect angle through the screen of their
video cameras or iPhones. Although his sketch is entirely
hilarious, it is impossible for one to miss the message behind
it.
It is sad that contemporary society experiences some of
the most exciting occasions through a screen. And that the first
thing one thinks of is to grab his or her phone to capture it.
When we see a beautiful sunset, we turn to pick up our phone
instead of simply appreciating the genuine (totally unfiltered)
beauty that is presently right in front of us.
Believe me, I’ve fallen victim to the incessant lure of
thinking to capture incredible moments for social media instead
of just admiring them in the present. Because of my iPhone, I’ve
actually stopped being present — my mind constantly looking to
the future. On my first vacation to Italy I travelled to the
absolutely dazzling island of Capri. In addition to sipping on
the most delicious limoncello I have ever tasted, I took a long
mountainous and winding bus ride down to the Grotta Azzurra.
Surviving the ride and claustrophobic staircase made of stones I
hopped into a small wooden boat and rode into the grotto. It was a
once in a lifetime. When the sunlight hit the water at a certain
angle and the brilliant blue, a shade that could never be
duplicated, spread throughout the grotto, I snatched the video
camera from my father and spent most of the ride trying to
film the color.
I was in the middle of an incredible place of natural
beauty, why was I obsessing on saving the moment instead of
enjoying it in the present?
We need to learn to be present. To fully appreciate
life’s beauty by fully dedicating ourselves to being in the
moment. To not waste our precious and irreplaceable time
by being stuck on anything that already happened or may
happen in the future.
A few weekends ago I vacationed in Cape Cod, MA. One
night my friend and I went down to the private beach for a
bonfire. It was the perfect night, the warm and comfy glow
of the fire meshing with the sound of the water behind it.
The entire night was magic. One of the nights you know will
stick in your memory for a while. The sand glittered and
glowed in the dark. Not an exaggeration. I’ve never experienced
it before, or knew it was even possible. (Note: Apparently it
is when the sand’s phosphorous levels are too high. I promise,
I was not seeing things.)
But this was not the only magic that I got to experience.
I saw two shooting stars and there was a surprise lunar eclipse.
One of the guys I was with was so exhilarated by everything
going on he started to run up and down the beach, eventually
deciding to face the cold water to become a part of the scene,
splashing under the blood red moon, in front of the glistening
sand behind the ocean that had become one with the sky.
This scene was not anything that could be snapped into a
photograph. You cannot save a feeling to an album, or Instagram
an emotion. Genuine, child-like delight is something that only
those fully present can understand.
Once you realize this and fully show up in the present,
these moments will start to appear more and more often. And
you’ll learn what it really means to appreciate the natural
magic in your life.
stay classy! xx