In a world where technology promises to streamline our lives to give us more time, more space, more freedom, to actually LIVE life – we’re missing it. Our heads are collectively ‘down’ looking at our phones more than they are ‘up’ absorbing the world around us. So, what are you missing out on? You’d be surprised…
Social media, in particular, has spawned the worst case of global ‘fear of missing out’ (FOMO) in the history of mankind. We’re constantly scrolling, clicking, zooming, swiping to see what everyone else’s highlight reel is showing us on Facebook and Instagram. Ironically, while we’re in that virtual world – one we all know isn’t an accurate reality – we’re literally losing our lives, missing out on seeing, hearing, interacting, embracing, thinking, being…in short, we’re missing out on life.
Think of every time you’ve looked down at your phone instead of looking up…That perfect stranger you missed eye contact with, the contented look you failed to give the elderly couple walking along hand-in-hand, the joy on that child’s face as she skips happily beside her Dad, the way the light shone through that fence dappling the ground with stars in the middle of the day, the way Mr Dreamy at your local cafe locked eyes with you for a split second that sent a warmth through you that lasted all day long, the call from your Mum you ignored because you were distracted scrolling, the empathetic moment you didn’t give that heartbroken girl, the homeless guy you walked past who went without dinner – and your $5. Everywhere you look, people have their gaze and their fingertips glued to their smartphones – oblivious to the world around them.
Eyes up people, we need to re-learn the ability to be present, we need to re-learn the Art of Seeing. Because honestly, there’s nothing on your phone that’s going to impact your life as much as facing the world with open eyes and awareness.
In the words of one of my favourite rebels, who famously took a ‘day out’ in life to live it to the fullest, Ferris Bueller – “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” If that’s not enough to make you put that phone back in your bag, check out this video and what this guy misses by looking at his phone for just moment – it changes the course of his life – in a big way…
Are you going to stop looking down? Tell us what you’ve missed by looking at your phone in the past…Or what you’re scared of missing!
