“Can I help you?" The Bashas’ employee, with perfect,
winged eyeliner, asked me.
Decide on
what? ICECREAM! Growing up, I never really cared for ice cream, but recently I
have discovered that I absolutely love it. So when I went to Bashas to get ice
cream with my mom and sister, it took me a while to decide which scoop of
heaven I was going buy. I let my mom and sister choose their ice cream first,
so I could have more time to think about all the mysterious flavors. When they
had finished, it was my turn. I had made up my mind. Rocky Road. I KNEW I
wanted Rocky Road more than I wanted the other fourteen flavors I had to choose
from. I took the first bite, and fell in love. But by the time we had gotten
into the car, I had already regretted my decision. I should have gotten
Mudslide....
This experience made me think of a TV show I used to watch, Brain Games.
This show explains how our minds work. I remember one specific episode it
talked about going to an ice cream parlor and trying to make a decision. It
said that we will always be happier if we only have to choose between vanilla,
chocolate, or strawberry. When we have different choices to choose from we will
(almost) always regret our choice. By having so many different flavors, we will
think, maybe I would have enjoyed the other one better. I think
I proved their study to be true.
I cannot help but think this study about ice cream can be linked to our
everyday lives. In the 21st Century we can choose between numerous things. In
regards to social media, we can choose Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, SnapChat,
good old fashioned texting, FaceTime, or thousands of others apps.
Sometimes we get caught up in the never ending list of apps, and fail to
remember ancient face to face conversation. Unfortunately, when we do choose
ancient face to face conversation, we spend it scrolling through some type of
social media. I am guilty of this. I know that I do it because I do not want to
miss anything. I want to always be entertained, occupied, and communicating.
While talking to my friend Alexandra, I could be talking to Marr-Rhyzle, or I
could be texting my crush, or I could be Snapping my cousin. Just like the ice
cream, I am left to think, maybe I would enjoy doing something else better.
How many times have you been talking to your friend and you get a SnapChat? Or
a text? Or a Facebook notification? Every day while communicating vis-à-vis to our loved ones, we are interrupted by technology,
and we respond to it. We willing ignore the person right in front of our eyes
for our phones.
Now don't get me wrong, I think technology is wonderful. I love the fact that I
can see my Nana's beautiful face from over 3,000 miles away. I love that I can
talk to my cousins who live in Georgia whom I miss dearly. But I HATE that
society has become engrossed in technology. I hate that people think we need to
post our entire lives on Facebook. I hate that when I'm talking to someone they
are scrolling through Twitter. I hate when halfway through my story, my friend
looks up from their phone and asks, “What?” I HATE that society has become
addicted to a screen.
(Sorry about that rant.)
This semester
I was blessed with the opportunity to be in the musical Marry Poppins. I knew
that I was going to love being a part of this musical, but I did not know I
would learn so many valuable life lessons. Before every show, the cast and crew
would stand in an enormous circle to receive a motivational speech that would
get us excited for our performance. Before one show, one of our directors said
something beautiful that has stuck with me. She said two simple words that have
changed my entire state of mind.
Be present.
I hope you read those words and felt the power I did when I heard them.
Be present.
We are here, now. We are surrounded by people we love. Every day we have the
opportunity to make memories that will last a lifetime. Yet, every day we stare
at our screens, we refresh pages, and post silly comments. While doing so, we
are losing precious time with the people in front of us. Be present. Spend time with the
people in front you. Enjoy every moment, so that one day you can remember
moments, not posts.
Decide on
what? ICECREAM! Growing up, I never really cared for ice cream, but recently I
have discovered that I absolutely love it. So when I went to Bashas to get ice
cream with my mom and sister, it took me a while to decide which scoop of
heaven I was going buy. I let my mom and sister choose their ice cream first,
so I could have more time to think about all the mysterious flavors. When they
had finished, it was my turn. I had made up my mind. Rocky Road. I KNEW I
wanted Rocky Road more than I wanted the other fourteen flavors I had to choose
from. I took the first bite, and fell in love. But by the time we had gotten
into the car, I had already regretted my decision. I should have gotten
Mudslide.... 
This experience made me think of a TV show I used to watch, Brain Games. This show explains how our minds work. I remember one specific episode it talked about going to an ice cream parlor and trying to make a decision. It said that we will always be happier if we only have to choose between vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry. When we have different choices to choose from we will (almost) always regret our choice. By having so many different flavors, we will think, maybe I would have enjoyed the other one better. I think I proved their study to be true.
I cannot help but think this study about ice cream can be linked to our everyday lives. In the 21st Century we can choose between numerous things. In regards to social media, we can choose Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, SnapChat, good old fashioned texting, FaceTime, or thousands of others apps. Sometimes we get caught up in the never ending list of apps, and fail to remember ancient face to face conversation. Unfortunately, when we do choose ancient face to face conversation, we spend it scrolling through some type of social media. I am guilty of this. I know that I do it because I do not want to miss anything. I want to always be entertained, occupied, and communicating. While talking to my friend Alexandra, I could be talking to Marr-Rhyzle, or I could be texting my crush, or I could be Snapping my cousin. Just like the ice cream, I am left to think, maybe I would enjoy doing something else better.
How many times have you been talking to your friend and you get a SnapChat? Or a text? Or a Facebook notification? Every day while communicating vis-à-vis to our loved ones, we are interrupted by technology, and we respond to it. We willing ignore the person right in front of our eyes for our phones.
Now don't get me wrong, I think technology is wonderful. I love the fact that I can see my Nana's beautiful face from over 3,000 miles away. I love that I can talk to my cousins who live in Georgia whom I miss dearly. But I HATE that society has become engrossed in technology. I hate that people think we need to post our entire lives on Facebook. I hate that when I'm talking to someone they are scrolling through Twitter. I hate when halfway through my story, my friend looks up from their phone and asks, “What?” I HATE that society has become addicted to a screen.
(Sorry about that rant.)
Be present.
I hope you read those words and felt the power I did when I heard them.
Be present.
We are here, now. We are surrounded by people we love. Every day we have the opportunity to make memories that will last a lifetime. Yet, every day we stare at our screens, we refresh pages, and post silly comments. While doing so, we are losing precious time with the people in front of us. Be present. Spend time with the people in front you. Enjoy every moment, so that one day you can remember moments, not posts.
*Slow clap -----> enthusiastic loud clap* Haha that was awesome, Shayna. I think it's so weird how our brains work. I remember doing the ice cream thing at Bahama Bucks. Blue Razzberry, right? Wrong. I mean I enjoyed it, but there's always that thought in the back of your mind, wondering if you would've liked something else better. I like how you tied it into every day decisions and even connected it to society's obsession with technology. As I'm typing this, there is a phone right in front of me. If I got a notification, I would stop typing and check it. This is probably okay now, but what about when I'm on a date or catching up with a friend. Thanks for helping me see these problems. Human beings should always have priority over a screen!
ReplyDelete