Guest Post: Observation of the Day

Along my way I passed a couple twice my age, who seemed to be occupied in a conversation – nothing unusual in that either. I just thought that was nice and wished that my hubby was by my side and not at home looking after the children. Then we could be engaged in a conversation about the huge amount of flying insects, the smell of the sheep when dew hits their furry bodies or something more serious – doesn’t matter which subject.

A moment later, I spotted two dog owners, whom I often see in my neighborhood. Usually it’s just the guy I see with both dogs – which happen to be a male and a female specimen of the same breed. I know/ conclude this from the red and blue color of the two dogs’ leashes. It’s a young couple, perhaps in the early twenties. I was approaching them from behind and in passing first the girl, I noticed she was walking with her smartphone in one hand and holding the dog in the other. Then, as I passed the guy, I, to my big surprise noticed that also he was quite occupied with his smartphone. Well, I thought, how sad this is…. they were not even talking to each other, just busy with each of their smartphones! (I later heard them call on their dogs, so speaking in general was not impossible for either of them).

I am only in the early thirties and not the owner of a smartphone (perhaps I never will be) for many reasons. One of them is that I see so many people with their faces and minds buried in the device that they forget to be present. That is certainly not very mindfull I dare say. Maybe it’s just me who is old-fashioned, that I will leave for others to judge.

But I sincerely believe from the bottom of my heart, that life is so much richer if you dare to switch off the electronical devices once in a while. That gives your mind time and space to notice the people – of flesh and bone – around you.

To acknowledge how beautiful, funny, sweet, intelligent, you name it, they are – not just give them a “like”.

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