As I sit here typing in a local coffee shop, I examine the room to find nothing but heads bowed and eyes fixed away from the world around them. Everyone here seems to be so damn calm and focused in their thoughts. Well, are they thinking at all? They have a stillness about them, almost too still; unconscious even. These can’t be human beings, not anymore at least. Some of these “things” are sitting at the same table, and yet, are ghosts to each others presence. There’s a profound worldly disconnect. I can almost see the fog between them. Did I walk into a prayer meeting? Was it nap time? You can count me in for one of those things. But then, things start to look familiar. Oh yes, I’ve seen this before. In fact, I see this everyday. I see these beings everywhere. I see them in stores, on sidewalks, in schools, at work, sometimes these things can even drive…I wouldn’t recommend it, not a high success rate. I knew if this was indeed what I hypothesized, I could look to one place on each one of these mindless drones for signs of life, their thumbs. It’s the fiber of their very existence, and like the fine detective I have the potential to be, I followed my hunch that led me to the conclusion I had predicted; We had movement, ladies and gentlemen! These things weren’t sleeping. They weren’t praying or meditating, they were actually…Drum roll please…Wait for it…Zombies! That’s right, friends, Zombies. Now, these aren’t the one’s you’re thinking of that run around deteriorating and feeding on flesh (sometimes I’d prefer those because at least we would see some interpersonal communication…Maybe a little too interpersonal, but interpersonal none-the-less), but the ones that walk around unresponsive, unaware of the living world. Their eyes are glued to a device smaller than the size of our hands, and somehow, more powerful than all of beauty, experiences, and wanderlust-satisfying-land the World has to offer. They walk around drooling with sunken eyes as they impatiently wait for (Feeding Time) this device to bring them a new notification, a “like”, a “favorite”, a text, a reason to take another picture, as if we had all forgotten what they looked like since the last picture posted 15 minutes ago. Welcome to the generation of the Smartphone.
……Okay, so maybe we aren’t dealing with “Zombies” per se, but you have to admit, there are striking similarities. My point is, we are living in a time where people are forgetting what the real human experience is. We’re missing out. You can’t go see a movie with someone, go on a date, play a game, spend time with friends and family, or even have a meaningful conversation without someone taking their attention off you and directing it to their phone. You can’t have a meal without posting it online. You can’t go take a piss without scrolling through your newsfeed in the bathroom. You can’t get in your car without first taking a picture. You’re forgetting what it’s like to play outside, yeah, that goes for us too, adults. You’re never too old to for some outdoor activities. People aren’t saying what they mean anymore, unless it’s depersonalized in a message. You’ll say, “I love you” in a text before looking that person in the eyes and telling them; a text can be deleted, but the emotion, and memories captured in that real-life moment will serve your heart for as long as it beats. We are missing that. We are forgetting that. The world is a fascinating place full of life changing experiences all around you, don’t spend it consumed in the wrong place. The last thing you want is to be at the end of the road and to ask yourself if you actually “lived” with have only just existed. So, please, put down the motherfucking phones and live, my friends.
Thought Renaissance 