Are you really there? Being here now is a choice.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU WERE REALLY PRESENT?
I often wonder about what we are becoming. We live in interesting times, constantly triggered by new technologies and information seeking our attention. Our phones have become an extension of our beings. In the midst of this, we seem to have become more at ease checking our social feeds than speaking or smiling to the person sitting next to us on the train. We portray moments of joy with friends and family, beautiful pictures of nature and travels and share inspirational quotes.
BUT ARE WE REALLY THERE WHEN WE LIVE ALL THESE AMAZING MOMENTS? Or are we focused on portraying that moment, portraying a life we are actually failing to live.
It just seems harder and harder for us to JUST BE AND BE HERE NOW.
A few weeks back, I attended the concert of Maroon 5 in Singapore and was reminded of how some of us may have lost track of who we truly are and what really matters in life.
I assumed we were all there for the same reason – enjoy the music and ambience – feel something special, maybe feel shivers or excitement from living it live.
Maybe I was wrong.
Maybe we were there to just record that moment in hope that we may get the best pic? or in hope that our social posts show off how happy we all were, what an amazing experience we were having.
BUT WERE WE REALLY THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE?
As soon as the band came on stage, all that could be seen were hundreds of hands stuck in the air trying to capture the moment while blocking out the actual band from everyone’s sight.
When my friends and I started dancing and having fun – we were frowned upon for disturbing people.
Half way through the concert, hundreds of people in the pit were turned towards the screens facing the exact opposite direction from the stage, actually turning their backs to the singer, ironically, the person they came to see in the first place.
WHEN DID WE FORGET WHAT IT MEANT TO JUST BE AND HAVE FUN?
What have we come to? We seem to be shortchanging ourselves – giving away our real lives in exchange for pictures and videos of what we think it should look like.
Would we not all be happier if we could just for a second enjoy that moment for that moment in itself.
BEING HERE NOW IS A CONSCIOUS CHOICE.
A choice that impacts the quality of the lives we live today.
A choice that determines your ability to truly feel.
A choice that makes all the difference between living fully and letting life pass you by.
And while I understand the attractions of our mobile phones and social networks I guess all I am saying is that sometimes we could all benefit from JUST BEING HERE NOW.
For that moment in time maybe we could:
DANCE OUR HEARTS OUT. FEEL THE BEAT.
EXPERIENCE THE JOY.
BE THE CHILD THAT WE ONCE WERE,
THE CHILD WHO KNEW HOW TO LIVE IN THE MOMENT.AND MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, LIFE WOULD SURPRISE US AGAIN WITH ALL OF ITS JOYS.
BEING HERE NOW IS A CHOICE WE ALL HAVE.
ARE YOU REALLY THERE?
