Many people are perpetually hypnotized by some form of virtual reality. Faces are glued to screens, eyelids are closed. Surroundings do not exist. Friends and loved ones are neglected, and life passes by; we do not say “Hello,” or “Goodbye.” Little is talked about, texting or video chatting is the norm. When did you last stop to look into the eyes of the person sitting in front of you? How many relationships are real; who has time for those?
We are sinking further into technology quick sand; basing our truth on the news channels we watch and believing that the internet has all the answers. The thinking is done for us. The public has lost its ability to communicate in the physical realm, turning to vices more dangerous than we may realize. Children are exposed to uncensored material. Texting has simplified vocabulary to its barest components. The world has become isolated.
I like to speak to strangers, making brief personal connections. I often ask random questions to other shoppers in the grocery store, fishing for advice and suggestions. Some people are obviously engrossed in their virtual bubbles; I have seen a trend of headphones! People are so distracted they don’t realize you are talking to them. Headphones! How will we survive if no one can hear us?
We have built impenetrable walls around ourselves. When I was little, walls were flexible. My siblings and I would barricade ourselves behind cereal boxes at breakfast, blocking our view of each other. Mornings can be rough. Throughout the day, the walls were demolished. My sisters and I laughed and played outside; we used our imaginations. There were no smart phones or social media and we didn’t watch much television. We climbed trees and ran wild.
Those days are gone, but I feel so lucky to have grown up this way. In the physical world, we didn’t worry about how many “likes” or “hearts” were awarded to our posts. There were much better ways to pass the time. Trends come and go, but you cannot put a price on an imagination. Remember that reality will only survive if we listen and create original thoughts. Look away from your screen. Look up and experience “real” life.
–SJB