I have been intrigued recently with the whole concept of going back to basics and living simply. Nowadays, we all lead busy lives and we have an abundance of choices and technology available to us each and every moment of our lives. But sometimes I think these can overcomplicate, desensitise and even break down the core sense of community.
Everything can now be done in the comfort of your own home, you no longer need to physically be at a class if you want to complete your studies, you watch an online lecture on your phone. Which is great and oh so convenient, but I also feel that these great advances in technology mean that the chance of new friendships and relationships forming in a real life and organic manner are now getting less and less possible.
People walk through the streets of the city, never looking up from their phones. I have nearly been knocked out countless times from this. I am guilty of half listening to conversations whilst checking my phone. I once went to a social media lecture, which reported a crazy amount of people checking Facebook before doing anything else when they wake up in the morning.
I once dated a guy that refused to conform and did not use a phone. It was cool at the start, but that quickly turned to frustrating when I couldn't communicate if I was running late! I am not advocating that everyone ditch their phones, maybe we re-think how we use them.
One morning I caught a cab in for a morning meeting I was having. I hailed the cab, sat down, put my seatbelt on and told the driver where I was off to. I automatically went for my phone, for no reason, but to fill in the idle time. It was there I decided I had a choice, I could use my phone to distract me or I could have a proper human conversation with the man who was driving me. Luckily, I chose to converse with my Taxi driver, we had such a great conversation about this very topic and I gained a little insight into his life. That conversation made my day.
So next time you are faced with a choice, to needlessly distract yourself with the happenings on social media, or to actually share a story or two with another human, I dare you to put down that phone, go back to basics and chat. You never know what doors will open from it.
Everything can now be done in the comfort of your own home, you no longer need to physically be at a class if you want to complete your studies, you watch an online lecture on your phone. Which is great and oh so convenient, but I also feel that these great advances in technology mean that the chance of new friendships and relationships forming in a real life and organic manner are now getting less and less possible.
People walk through the streets of the city, never looking up from their phones. I have nearly been knocked out countless times from this. I am guilty of half listening to conversations whilst checking my phone. I once went to a social media lecture, which reported a crazy amount of people checking Facebook before doing anything else when they wake up in the morning.
I may sound very anti-technology. I am not. I just think we are over-doing it...a tad!
I once dated a guy that refused to conform and did not use a phone. It was cool at the start, but that quickly turned to frustrating when I couldn't communicate if I was running late! I am not advocating that everyone ditch their phones, maybe we re-think how we use them.
One morning I caught a cab in for a morning meeting I was having. I hailed the cab, sat down, put my seatbelt on and told the driver where I was off to. I automatically went for my phone, for no reason, but to fill in the idle time. It was there I decided I had a choice, I could use my phone to distract me or I could have a proper human conversation with the man who was driving me. Luckily, I chose to converse with my Taxi driver, we had such a great conversation about this very topic and I gained a little insight into his life. That conversation made my day.
So next time you are faced with a choice, to needlessly distract yourself with the happenings on social media, or to actually share a story or two with another human, I dare you to put down that phone, go back to basics and chat. You never know what doors will open from it.
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