Are you really enjoying the walk?

We live in a time where everything is posted, shared, twitted, recorded, etc. Social media has allowed us to share moments and things instantaneously, and this is an advantage because we can keep in touch with family members that live far, and know how they are doing. Unfortunately, there is a catch. A trap that if we are not careful, we can be dangerously affected by it. Are we living and enjoying every moment? Are we present? Are you really enjoying the walk?

A year ago, I was at a place in Florida where people create memories, walk and enjoy the amenities, the rides, and enjoy the magic. And as I walked, I looked around, and it was a sad reminder of a huge problem. Everywhere I looked, there was someone behind their cellphone recording, talking, taking a photo, looking at Facebook, etc. Then I wondered, yes, they will have a recording of that moment, but are they enjoying it? Are they experiencing that moment? And if we are honest, the answer is no. Behind the phone, you cannot enjoy the complete experience. Behind the phone, you cannot get immersed nor participate actively in it.

Another sad example happened not so long ago when I saw a group of teens supposedly talking and sharing a moment. When I looked closely, they were at the same place, but they were not together. You can ask, how can that be? They were sharing the same area, but they were in their world, like zombies on their phones, not even looking at each other. What happened to human interactions, to laughing out loud at each other comments and anecdotes, to sharing ideas, sharing the moment. The problem is so bad that I’ve seen teens texting back and forth even when they are just feet apart from each other. It is sad and incomprehensible. The phone is causing us to lose great moments that may never come back. It is even replacing human interactions and controlling us instead of us controlling them. Try to analyze, when was the last time you went to a wedding, a family reunion, a park, a trip, a play, a birthday, a meeting and did not get out your phone to record? When was the last time you really enjoyed and actively participated in an activity without having the urge to take a photo or record it?

I’ve been trying to change this because I realized that, is better when I get completely submerged at the moment, and I prefer to have great memories that I lived and experienced, that lots of memories in my phone in which I was a mere spectator. I love to enjoy quality time with my daughters. I love to create beautiful memories with them and be silly. I want to be present, to participate in each moment rather than watch them enjoy themselves while I take a video. I know there’re things we like to immortalize, and there’s nothing wrong with it, but limit your time, don’t be on your phone the entire time. Take time to put it aside and enjoy, really enjoy the moment. The best memories are the ones we are present. The ones that we lose ourselves into and get immersed in. Those memories will last a lifetime and will affect our life. Let’s make memories together. Let's enjoy the walk!