Put your phone away to be more present in the moment.
One of my sons sent me these photos via the tweet by Randy Cruz with the simple line “No phones out vs all phones out”. Two of the greatest basketball players of all time are Michael Jordan (in red) and LeBron James (in yellow). Recently LeBron beat the all-time scoring record. Note the difference in the crowd from the recent photo to the photo of MJ hitting the NBA championship-winning shot in 1998, the days before smartphones and social media.
There are so many opportunities to lose ourselves in the online world, including taking photos to post up there as almost all the fans at LeBron’s game did to “capture the moment”. Were they really “there” for the moment though?
Last week I had a wonderful and fulfilling week in Cayman working with several clients, along with spending time with the two of my sons who live there, as well as other meetings and time spent with friends. Looking at my camera roll, though, I took very few photos indeed during the week. My phone was put away almost all the time.
One photo was of a sunset on the evening I arrived. Another of the view from a top-floor meeting room the next morning, having consciously arrived early for a half-day client meeting. A third photo was of the view over the water as I waited to meet a friend for a happy hour drink on Friday having finished my work for the week. That was it. Three photos in a week.
We always have the choice as to how fully we are present at any moment. I recommend being present. Our memories will remember the moments where we are most present.