Call me, maybe.

In a world of technology and never-ending evolution, having a smartphone is considered a must. The universe is literally just one click away. What a convenient era to live in.

Every time I’m riding on the train or waiting for the bus, sometimes even when I’m in the lift at work, people were just bending their heads down, staring at their smartphones, scrolling and scrolling without limits. Sometimes scowls on their faces, sometimes just slow shakes of their heads, most probably trying to fathom everything they’ve just read or witness from their soc-meds or emails.

I have an unhealthy amount of trust issues to be scrolling through my soc-meds in public, given that in a fully-packed train where a person can thoroughly inspect the contains of woman’s handbags with just one look, worst if the train suddenly decides to jolt you may (God forbid) end up kissing the person whose standing in front of you. I’d rather plug in my earphones and blast the music away (although in the subway music is kind of useless) (due to the shrilling, deafening sound of steel rubbing against each other). If you decide to scroll through your soc-meds in a fully-packed train, get ready to unintentionally share the view with the person beside/in front/behind you.

Regardless of all the conveniences and brilliance of smartphones, it is a sad reality to be in, knowing that we’re literally the slaves of technology. People are more concerned about looking at everything through pixels rather than learning to enjoy the moments that their in. I remembered going for a team building trip to Perhentian Island last year, the first step on the luminous sands with a scenic view of the crystal clear sea water by the beach, and almost everyone was taking out their smartphones and pulling their friends close for selfies. People are ‘checking in’ on their soc-meds accounts and posting up status updates.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, I admit. For a memory that consistently falters and forgets, it is always a great idea to keep everything in the form of photos and videos so that 5 years in the future, they will be the living proofs of the haves and the could haves. Photos to share with closed ones as a remembrance of happy joyful days. That is the motives of keeping photo albums back then when smartphones have not yet existed.

Personally, as a person who does not let social medias dictate and define who I am or what I feel, my smartphone is just a medium for communication with the people who matters in my life. I use my phone to call and text my family and friends, group discussions through Whatsapp (ranging from primary school friends to work colleagues), Youtube whenever I felt like watching ‘how to’ videos as well as K-pops, Tumblr ( which I dont use much since it consumes way too much mobile data), Sudoku (occasionally when I dont have a book with me) and Gmail for work purposes. Sounded like I’m living a boring life, huh?

That being said, I almost never uses a power bank  since my smartphone battery may last for a good full day if I dont have to communicate through any medium stated above. I’d say I lived my life pretty much, dully as compared to most people my age. I dont have an Instagram account where I could possibly share countless photos on who I met, the places I’ve been to, that fireworks I recorded from my window that seems to serve no purpose at all, or the good food I enjoy with my loved ones. I no longer feel the need to share my discontent or joy about life on Twitter.

Fret not, because I prefer to record each and every single details of moments I’ve been in with the people I’m with at particular places, descriptively, in my journal or right here in my blog. Writing things have been a habit for me to remember and it has proven to be an effective method. It’s entirely okay to not have or post pictures as proofs, who needs them anyways. As long as it happened, and I’ve jot them down in words in exchange to each and every feelings I’ve kept dear in my heart, it happened. I have no need for the conformity of others on the moments I personally cherish.

It is fairly difficult to master the art of ‘living in the moment’ when we’re constantly surrounded by technologies. I’m learning one step at the time to free myself from this cage where everything I do involves the use of technology. Heck, I’m even writing this post with the help of technology.  It must be great to be able to live off the grid as much as it is spectacular to have everything in the palms of our hands.

Imagine being able to talk to your parents face to face, while having dinner together at home. Imagine riding a train where everybody decides to stare out the window and enjoy the view and with a serene look on their faces. Imagine strolling down the beach, hand-in-hand with your significant other, without a damn care on what the world thinks. Imagine just laughing out loud and chatting away with friends while having tea and cookies in cafe somewhere in the city. Imagine just basking under the sunlight back in your own yard or garden and enjoying every sound of nature while the evening lasts.

Imagine the world without technology.

CR: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, pg 90/224.