The fresh, crisp breeze flows around the corner engulfing the city in a plethora of aromas ranging in the pleasant to the foul. A flash of light catches the eye; skyscrapers reflecting sunlight amidst the clouds above. There’s whir and whistle of cars and bikes passing by; dizzying, almost hypnotic.  The world around us is alive, but we don’t see it.  With a swipe and a tap and we’re miles away.

Looking around me; distant faces and blank stares. People gliding past one another, almost methodically, without even the slightest glance up from their phones.  What happened to social, real social?  The world we live in is wrought with technology connecting us digitally but separating us from the physical.  Sure, we want to stay connected but at what cost? We’ve lost sight of the here and now; the moments around us.

We’ve somehow become more concerned with our phones than the people surrounding us.  I don’t say this to pass judgements on others.  In fact, I can easily say I was one of the worst offenders of this.  Friends would constantly call me out about being on my phone.  I never saw it as being distant, I thought I was staying connected, but in reality I was disconnected from the world around me.  I’m still fighting it today; that urge to constantly be in the know.  What happened to the now?  I’m in this unceasing bout of Now versus Know.

But why did this happen?  What is this perpetual draw to always be on our phones?  The expression “we’re creatures of habit” comes to mind.  But I’ll take it one step further, we’re creatures of addiction.  We all have addictive tendencies. Today we have the convenience of instantaneous connection to the world around us.  “What is Alison up to?” “How many likes did I get?  “How come nobody commented on my status?”  These sites take full advantage of our addictive natures.  Us; simply addicts seeking the next fix.

We’re regularly texting to be constantly in the loop. So many of us are losing sight of our immediate friends and our surroundings. Sure your plans later tonight are interesting, “Oh, you’re going to Stephanie’s party too!?” but what about your plans now?  What about the people around you now?  This drive to stay connected actually pushed us farther apart.

I can’t offer a full solution to this, because I do not have one.  I’m not saying technology is bad, far from it, it’s made our lives easier in more ways than I can count.  But we do need to place restriction on ourselves.  Get off your phones.  Exist in the moment.  Don’t just do, be.