Being present in the digital world

We live in a peculiar time. Our phones have become extensions of ourselves, windows to an endless stream of content. And the irony is striking:

We're more connected than ever, yet increasingly disconnected from the present moment. Our attention has become a valuable currency, and we're spending it carelessly on digital distractions.

Have you ever watched someone take a photo of their meal, spend five minutes choosing the perfect filter, and post it online - all before taking their first bite? The food gets cold, the moment passes, and somehow, sharing the experience becomes more important than experiencing it.

We often disregard the fact that notification can wait, but life won't.

I recently conducted a personal experiment. By turning off my social media notifications, my daily phone usage dropped from 6-7 hours to just 4. That's three hours of life reclaimed.

Three hours where I could feel the warmth of sunlight on my face, hear birds chirping outside my window, or sit in peaceful silence with my thoughts. I have more control over my time rather than just sitting down and mindlessly scrolling.

Remember this: While you're scrolling through someone else's highlight reel, your own story is waiting to be lived.

Are we even still friends?

I stay connected with my old friends through Instagram, watching their lives unfold through posts and stories. It feels like I never lost touch like I'm still part of their journey. But recently, something happened that changed my perspective.

I met one of these friends in person after years of only digital interaction. The moment was... awkward. I realized I knew everything about his life - his recent promotion, his weekend trips, even what he had for breakfast yesterday - all from his Instagram posts. Meanwhile, he knew almost nothing about me since I rarely share online.

The conversation felt strangely one-sided. I felt like a silent observer who had stepped out of the shadows, someone who had been watching his life from afar without participating in it. At that moment, it hit me: while I had been following his digital footprints, our real friendship had faded.

Over the years, our interactions have been reduced to double taps, emoji reactions, and occasional comments. "Looking good!" "Congrats!" "Amazing view!" These shallow exchanges have replaced our once-meaningful conversations. What we have now isn't friendship—it is just a digital connection.

The truth stung: we had become mere acquaintances, our relationship preserved in the amber of social media but no longer growing or evolving in real life.

It's funny how social media can make us feel connected while actually keeping us apart. We scroll through carefully curated highlights of others' lives, thinking we're staying in touch when, in reality, we're just watching from the sidelines.

Perhaps it's time to close the app and open up a real conversation instead.

The next time you reach for your phone, pause, take a deep breath, and look around. Life is happening right now, in full colour, with no filters needed.

Would you rather experience life through someone else's social media posts or experience life yourself?

Remember, life is happening right now. Don't miss it because you're looking at your phone. Take a moment to look around and really see what's going on. So, what will you choose to pay attention to today?

I hope you find this insightful. Remember:

It's not going to be easy,
But it's not impossible.

Your friend,
Brian.