“Life is the dancer and you are the dance.” Eckhart Tolle (2006)
I’ve long been fond of all types of music. As a young teen, I played an instrument in the band. Later, as a an aspiring adult, I found guitar solos and interesting drum cadences calling me to a new genre of music. Then, I began the jazz period, country period, metal, and back to plain “rock and roll”. Life is a patchwork of experience, from the dizzying beat of disco to the guitar licks of L.A. Guns which are still making great music. I grew up with this energy of being ‘with’ the band throughout all of these periods.
I began to want to capture my experiences on film or, rather, media card. Why? (Because the person next to me what also filming.) What level of distraction do I need to enjoy what is in front of me? (You ADHD folks know what I’m talking about here – the distraction for focusing.) What will I be doing with the video? Will I EVEN watch it again? (No answers both questions.) So why am I even trying to fuss with an electronic device, argue with people about being distracting, making my party angry because they cannot enjoy the show, and I take away NOTHING.
I then asked myself this question: What if I put my electronic device away (pocket, purse, lake – does not matter) and ENJOYED the show? Or, an even bigger question to answer: Why am I trying to capture the event on film instead of ‘feeling’ the event and experiencing this through my senses that are NOT tied to a mobile device? (Probably because I want to create a cherished memory of the event. Isn’t the memory better when experienced versus filming? A good point of debate for just what is cherished is to the individual, isn’t it.)
Bruno Mars has the right of it. This article discusses this from the artist’s point of view. There is disagreement here because some do need a physical memory of the event. To that argument, I respond that you will never capture the feelings you feel in the moment through the lens of your phone’s camera. I would argue that a physical representation of an ‘energetic’ event like a performance (concert, play, movie, etc.) is a poor substitute for the actually feeling the experience. Are we attending as a status update to our social media accounts or are you truly there to enjoy your evening? Perhaps its one’s motivation – or their why – that is at question here?
When we cease to truly feel our moments, we become more automatic and the feelings can be confusing and jumbled. These are habits – yes, habits – that can be compounded on over the years to create a monolith of meaning in their silence. I enjoy life so much more when my phone is not in my hand. I’m already naturally distracted by my ADHD. The phone offers additional distraction that is both comforting and very scary. Try leaving your phone in your bag or pocket and see what being in the moment feels like.
I almost forgot about the wonder of the world.
Peace.
The Wobble 