My Present: Be Present

This holiday season.

This holiday season, pretend that we still live in a time when a phone was only a phone used for phone calls.

Put the mobile device down.

If you’re one of those people who spends a lot of time on phone calls, make your holiday calls to friends and family, but don’t neglect those people who are in front of you.

This holiday season, pretend you don’t have wifi or data.

Live in the moment.

This holiday season remember, “If it’s not on social media, it didn’t happen.” is wrong. We joke that it’s true, but it’s only a joke.

Life happens, undocumented.

This holiday season, please enjoy your experiences & live in them.

Ignore your apps. Turn your notifications off. Nothing online needs your attention.

This holiday season recall back the days before the internet if you’re old enough to. Baby Boomers, Gen Xers, I beg you. Please unplug.

If you’re too young to remember a time before the internet — Millennials and Gen Zs — imagine it. It wasn’t that bad.

We never needed the technology until the technology was created.

We managed.

This holiday season be present. Focus on those you’re with.

We (Gen Xers) invented the internet as we now know it. There are lots of good things about it, but it’s also become an all-consuming monster.

It’s good to unplug, to be present, to take a break. Read a book. Have conversations. Eat good food and drink good drinks without posting photos to show everyone. It’s okay if you don’t share.

You have my permission to not share every aspect of your life with all of your “followers”.

Ask yourself why you feel compelled to share. Are you sharing because you want validation? Is it a habit?

Please take a break.

Break the cycle.

Be present. Be mindful. Enjoy.

Happy holidays.