Why anything that doesn’t make it to your Facebook wall appears
an achievement gone waste, happiness incomplete and a moment understated? Why everything,
however trifle, has to be shouted to an entire world, when honestly no one
cares who you are. Is it shallow need for recognition from the clan who are
equally needy of it from you? While some use it as a brilliant platform for
awareness and meaningful causes, with of course very rare successful ones; a
majority is here for gimmick. The people who drive lame networking. Useless yet
irresistible.
Why have we become so un-thoughtful to taking joy in our
private moments? Why what you do in your bedroom has to be known by everyone?
Whatever happened to the beauty of silence and unsaid expressions? Who is
interested in knowing where you are having your dinner, which spa you rejuvenated
at or what your spouse got on your birthday. What happened to your favourite dress
or which perfume brand you love. Many would wonder if you really have it in
your wardrobe. It’s hilarious to notice how even appreciation happens on a very
intricate calculation of giving and receiving. Why have we stopped enjoying our
real surroundings? Real companies? Real conversations? Real admiration? Have we
simply become oblivious to all those? Or we are scared of not being heard in
our real world? For, we have nothing noteworthy to say and there’s nothing
noticeable in our everyday nonsense or rare fancy stuff? There are several who
would come to defence and cry about not knowing joys of sharing. But I strongly
disagree, for sharing is an intangible joy. It can’t be measured in any amount
of likes or comments or whatever other funny metrics used to measure our
e-happiness. What has led us to this stage? When a virtual page has become our
only source of being noticed?
In the fast paced life, demanding workplaces, hard to resist
distractions, and growing discords at home, touchscreens awkwardly help us find
time to do lame talk. Anytime. Anywhere. Because we desperately seek an opinion
on everything we do or say. Otherwise nothing seems to make sense. When
unnoticed, we question our own thoughts and expressions. Seeking attention
becomes our goal instead of a by-product. The whole idea of networking aggressively
continuously is a dangerous instrument for beating sciamachy. That of
loneliness. Human touch pushed to the side by invasive virtual reality which
provides an illusionary comfort of company, when in reality none exists.
Everyone wants to talk and everyone wants to be heard. Ironically, there are no
listeners. And definitely no quality listeners. Time, the only resource of your
being and existence - is relentlessly spent on establishing a disconnection. Voyeurism
of our very own journey. That, when it has very little to offer if we don’t have
a purpose of life in it. Not everyone follows the herd mentality and perhaps,
that is the saving grace. There are few who have a thought that is both
meaningful and novel which could compel you to notice, ponder and practice. It
could be an idea or an experience or a problem. And that is where reaching out
makes a lot of sense. Someone could get better at something. Someone faceless
can take up a chance to be heard or known. Albeit for a forgettable thing, which
mostly is the case. Yet, I’d prefer it to be a real one that gives you an
opportunity to make a contact for real. Eye to eye, voice to voice, heart to
heart and mind to mind.
Take a step back and give yourself that opportunity again.
That is the only bit that separates humans from machines. The power to feel,
touch and emote them with a twinkle in your eye. Don’t let robots overtake the
beauty of it all. Update your goals, not statuses – which are again mostly
stolen. Refresh your outlook in life, not pages. Enjoy your time. Enjoy your
silence. Enjoy yourself. Take time out for the real world. Observe. People,
places, and mundane. Relish it. Learn or ignore but take the chance to make
that choice. Next time when you are walking down the street, look up and look
around. Keep your eyes off that phone. For the screen you are on - in this
world is far bigger, with a brighter display and a resolution to die for. Why
settle for small stuff?
