So beautifully written, loved this bit 'You tell them how you feel and you see your words make an impression on their face like footprints in the snow.' really resonates, really want to make sure im having more mindful conversations. Thank you for writing!
Thanks so much for reading, Charlotte 🫶 It’s a shame that these conversations feel more difficult to come by lately. But we have the power to change things!
I loved this and completely agree. For me being present reading is the thing I mourn the most so I’m trying to read at leat five pages without picking up my phone. It sounds silly but the hold it has on me🪦
Totally relate to this! When I was little I could spend hours curled up in a corner reading. Now I have this knee-jerk like reaction every 15 minutes to check something. Here's to building better deep focus!
Amazing work!! This is such a good reminder to reject the attention economy and to be more present. My brain literally starts to hurt if im exposing myself to too much content.... a lesson to be learned!
I can relate so much to the head-throbbing/numbness that comes from having your head stuck in your device, all day every day. We really need the friction, the monotony, and the unstructured thought that comes with being present. Thank you for reading 💚
Absolutely! I feel sometimes being more deliberate with the way I consume media allows me to still be connected to entertainment but not "sucked into it". For example, id say that in a moderate amount, choosing the exact song you want to listen to while on a (boring) drive allows you to be able to appreciate your surrondings more instead of just hitting shuffle. Its being conscious with /what/ media we insert into our brains that allows to slowly break away from having to /need/ the media in our day to day life. Tis better to choose to listen to music because it will improve your day rather that you needing to listen to music because your brain craves dopamine. Thats the difference between music causing a headache vs music causing enjoyment ! Just something I realized while listening to Steely Dan this afternoon...
I think you're on to something with choosing to listen to music because it will improve your day rather that you needing to listen to music because your brain craves dopamine! It reminds me of the expression I heard once on responsible drinking: "don't drink to feel better, have a drink to feel even better"!
The quote is perfection ;) and I agree, sometimes I lift my eyes from my phone and enjoy this little bubble of awareness. Everyone is self-absorbed and I'm virtually invisible!
It’s sometimes nice to feel invisible, especially in a big hectic city! But I don’t want invisible to be my “default”, which it has become in recent years 🤣
Amen! I too have been consciously making effort to be present in similar ways as you - not taking phone out, leaving earphones out, taking in scenery when walking out and about. May we pave the change 👏🏼
“I feel thin, sort of stretched, like butter scraped over too much bread."
A fully-present nature walk. Sitting at a table alone observing the people around you. It used to not be so archaic. I love the way it feels. Leaving my phone behind to go on a walk or an hour-long errand? I know I need it when it makes me squirm.
God this is so true though I find what's harder for me is when I'm making the effort to be present but feel like the world isn't allowing me to. Something is always ahead waiting for me and I have to run to it before I make myself feel bad so I can't win either way and it sucks
Thanks for bringing this important conversation to light, Caoilainn.
The funny thing is that what you’re describing is how we used to live pre- cell phone technology and social medias (my teens and 20s) and now it seems that making eye contact, saying hello, or striking a convo with a waiter is seen as taboo 😮
I agree with your recommendations 💯 %, let’s get back to basics. Let’s remember m that REAL LIFE/ REALITY is at the tip of our senses- fingertips, nose, eyes, ears and tongue . Not in devices/music or plugged into memes.
I’ll join you and you join me in practicing presencing and Let’s BE HERE NOW 🙏🏻✨🩷 it gets easier with practice and just needs to be an intentional commitment to living in present moment time and not in virtual lalaland, Deal ???
I feel I am not alone on this journey 🤝 I've been trying to do pretty much the same things as you have described here. I feel that this is a habbit, which can be adjusted. It wasn't like that even some 10-13 years ago! It is in the last 1,5 decades when this shift happened and the life turned hectic-busy like this. I often think back, and try so desperately to remember what life was and felt like before smarphones. There was still technology, and there was plenty of distractions for sure (tv, videogames), and yet, life had a flavour! Colours. Texture. It was more intentional. Listening to music was intentional. Communicaring online with people around the world was intentional. Maybe we can still go back to that long forgotten feeling? Please don't give up on your journey to a more present and fulfilling life! Warm greetings from Latvia ☀️😌
I'm so glad this came across my feed. I read your first article - I can't remember the title but there were passages that just resonated within me. I'm also on a personal mission to be comfortable with sitting and just being, ya'know? And also being okay with boredom.
Great essay. For a few years now I've been routinely leaving my phone at home during some walks. It's been rewarding and, interestingly, I notice it seems to make some of the people I pass uncomfortable. Like making eye contact and smiling or nodding a greeting is considered weird now.
There are days when the internet is a tangible collective consciousness with resonance; I really appreciate all theses discernments as someone who notices similar normalizations on the other side of the world. From presence and paying attention, to letting the world in and what it can mean to really be in it too. I'm glad I'm not alone and that people are not only thinking about it too, but choosing mindfully. May the art of being present live, after all.
I absolutely loved this essay and 100% agree with everything you wrote! I’ve also been making a more conscious effort to be more present and really appreciate those moments where I can focus on one thing only, instead of splitting my attention between a bunch of things at the same time 🤓
So beautifully written, loved this bit 'You tell them how you feel and you see your words make an impression on their face like footprints in the snow.' really resonates, really want to make sure im having more mindful conversations. Thank you for writing!
Thanks so much for reading, Charlotte 🫶 It’s a shame that these conversations feel more difficult to come by lately. But we have the power to change things!
the chop suey line made me laugh out loud. amazing work, really motivating me to keep striving for a distraction-free life
I'm so glad someone noticed that 🤣 thanks for reading Maddie! 💛
I loved this and completely agree. For me being present reading is the thing I mourn the most so I’m trying to read at leat five pages without picking up my phone. It sounds silly but the hold it has on me🪦
Totally relate to this! When I was little I could spend hours curled up in a corner reading. Now I have this knee-jerk like reaction every 15 minutes to check something. Here's to building better deep focus!
Amazing work!! This is such a good reminder to reject the attention economy and to be more present. My brain literally starts to hurt if im exposing myself to too much content.... a lesson to be learned!
I can relate so much to the head-throbbing/numbness that comes from having your head stuck in your device, all day every day. We really need the friction, the monotony, and the unstructured thought that comes with being present. Thank you for reading 💚
Absolutely! I feel sometimes being more deliberate with the way I consume media allows me to still be connected to entertainment but not "sucked into it". For example, id say that in a moderate amount, choosing the exact song you want to listen to while on a (boring) drive allows you to be able to appreciate your surrondings more instead of just hitting shuffle. Its being conscious with /what/ media we insert into our brains that allows to slowly break away from having to /need/ the media in our day to day life. Tis better to choose to listen to music because it will improve your day rather that you needing to listen to music because your brain craves dopamine. Thats the difference between music causing a headache vs music causing enjoyment ! Just something I realized while listening to Steely Dan this afternoon...
I think you're on to something with choosing to listen to music because it will improve your day rather that you needing to listen to music because your brain craves dopamine! It reminds me of the expression I heard once on responsible drinking: "don't drink to feel better, have a drink to feel even better"!
The quote is perfection ;) and I agree, sometimes I lift my eyes from my phone and enjoy this little bubble of awareness. Everyone is self-absorbed and I'm virtually invisible!
It’s sometimes nice to feel invisible, especially in a big hectic city! But I don’t want invisible to be my “default”, which it has become in recent years 🤣
:/ awwh that's a bit sad to hear
Amen! I too have been consciously making effort to be present in similar ways as you - not taking phone out, leaving earphones out, taking in scenery when walking out and about. May we pave the change 👏🏼
That’s awesome to hear Íse! Life is so much better when we are actively joining in 🧡
Love your page, been binging your posts and I’m almost sooooo present rn holy cowza
“I feel thin, sort of stretched, like butter scraped over too much bread."
A fully-present nature walk. Sitting at a table alone observing the people around you. It used to not be so archaic. I love the way it feels. Leaving my phone behind to go on a walk or an hour-long errand? I know I need it when it makes me squirm.
God this is so true though I find what's harder for me is when I'm making the effort to be present but feel like the world isn't allowing me to. Something is always ahead waiting for me and I have to run to it before I make myself feel bad so I can't win either way and it sucks
Thanks for bringing this important conversation to light, Caoilainn.
The funny thing is that what you’re describing is how we used to live pre- cell phone technology and social medias (my teens and 20s) and now it seems that making eye contact, saying hello, or striking a convo with a waiter is seen as taboo 😮
I agree with your recommendations 💯 %, let’s get back to basics. Let’s remember m that REAL LIFE/ REALITY is at the tip of our senses- fingertips, nose, eyes, ears and tongue . Not in devices/music or plugged into memes.
I’ll join you and you join me in practicing presencing and Let’s BE HERE NOW 🙏🏻✨🩷 it gets easier with practice and just needs to be an intentional commitment to living in present moment time and not in virtual lalaland, Deal ???
Thank you for this!
I feel I am not alone on this journey 🤝 I've been trying to do pretty much the same things as you have described here. I feel that this is a habbit, which can be adjusted. It wasn't like that even some 10-13 years ago! It is in the last 1,5 decades when this shift happened and the life turned hectic-busy like this. I often think back, and try so desperately to remember what life was and felt like before smarphones. There was still technology, and there was plenty of distractions for sure (tv, videogames), and yet, life had a flavour! Colours. Texture. It was more intentional. Listening to music was intentional. Communicaring online with people around the world was intentional. Maybe we can still go back to that long forgotten feeling? Please don't give up on your journey to a more present and fulfilling life! Warm greetings from Latvia ☀️😌
I'm so glad this came across my feed. I read your first article - I can't remember the title but there were passages that just resonated within me. I'm also on a personal mission to be comfortable with sitting and just being, ya'know? And also being okay with boredom.
Incredible piece.
Great essay. For a few years now I've been routinely leaving my phone at home during some walks. It's been rewarding and, interestingly, I notice it seems to make some of the people I pass uncomfortable. Like making eye contact and smiling or nodding a greeting is considered weird now.
There are days when the internet is a tangible collective consciousness with resonance; I really appreciate all theses discernments as someone who notices similar normalizations on the other side of the world. From presence and paying attention, to letting the world in and what it can mean to really be in it too. I'm glad I'm not alone and that people are not only thinking about it too, but choosing mindfully. May the art of being present live, after all.
I absolutely loved this essay and 100% agree with everything you wrote! I’ve also been making a more conscious effort to be more present and really appreciate those moments where I can focus on one thing only, instead of splitting my attention between a bunch of things at the same time 🤓