So, this amazing photo went viral this week. It’s so perfect because it highlights what’s been on my mind. Don’t ya love it when that happens?! If you haven’t seen it until now, take a minute to check out the best part of it…the little happy elderly woman in front. The pic was taken at a movie premier. While everyone else is busy trying to capture the moment on their smartphones, she was actually experiencing it, and clearly enjoying herself.
We live in a world where so many of us are guilty of trying to document everything, that many times we miss out on actually experiencing life the way we could.
It’s close to unavoidable these days to not get sucked down the rabbit holes of social media. It’s easy to get consumed with trying to catch your little one’s every “first” on video. Heck, I even caught myself at a concert last week recording parts of the show, before realizing I wasn’t actually experiencing the music like I could have in that moment. It’s become almost an obsession for people to capture special times on film, so they can go back and experience “again,” yet they weren’t actually present the first time around.
As I type these words, I’m quite aware of how guilty I am. So as much as I hope to convey to you, I am also reminding myself to put my phone down, and be more present. No email is more urgent than your child’s need for attention. No photo is as important as sharing a memory (and I don’t mean on social media), and no video will ever replace the joy of being present and experiencing one of life’s infinite precious moments.
I don’t want to ever look back at my photos and videos and not remember how if felt to cuddle with my girls, to laugh with my friends, to feel my feet in the sand, to taste delicious foods, or to hold my hubby’s hand. These moments are easily lost when we are too busy taking selfies, and trying to document it all.
The joy on the woman’s face in the photo says it all. My guess is she probably has no idea her pic is all over the internet either, because she’s out there enjoying her life the way we all could be!
Now go out there and experience and appreciate this moment. It’s the only thing that’s real…
That’s it; that’s all I got for ya!
Happy day!
PHOTO: BOSTON GLOBE VIA GETTY IMAGES
