The Tension We Live As We Seek Beauty In The Common
Some good friends of mine started a movement recently about finding beauty in the common. Through song, written word, spoken word, and imagery they are seeking to draw out the simplistic beauty that is already around us, yet we are often too busy to see. As someone who lives in a very plugged-in life, I find that this struggle is more real than ever before. And I know I’m not alone.
- We can move too fast, trying to keep up with all of the notifications, that we never notice the messages all around us.
- We can swipe our thumb over beautiful interactions happening online in search for the next “viral” thing, and never see the beauty right in front of us.
- We can be aiming our phones in search of the best angle for our selfies that we miss out on seeing the world through a different angle.
- We miss out on time with real people so that we can keep up with the latest on a phone.
- We are so focused on what is happening on our own life and profiles that we miss out on what is happening in the lives of those right around us.
A fast-paced, me-centered world was never what was intended and this world will do everything it can to tell you otherwise. Perhaps all of these apps are doing nothing more than distracting us from truly living life.
So, what are you missing out on? Perhaps you don’t even know…
- What joys are we missing out on because we choose to see life through a screen?
- What needs do we not see because we’re focusing on our own profiles so much?
- What “big things” are we worrying about because we fail to see the “little things” that are gifts all around us?
- What smiles do we miss because we’re looking at a phone instead of the people around us?
- What sunsets do we get just a glimpse when we could save the full vibrancy?
So, put down the phone. I mean it. Just set it down. And leave the room. You’ll live – I promise. You might even find that life is a little bit sweeter.
- Go lie on a blanket of green, lush grass.
- Sit and stare at the stars at night.
- Stop and watch the sunset morph into a tapestry before you.
- Look someone in the eye.
- Have a real conversation.
It’s hard really. This world is full of great and wonderful things that can be used as tools to express, preserve, and share beauty. However, these same things can consume us and allow us to miss out on the beauty that is right in front of our eyes. Perhaps this should cause us to question if our phone is the first thing we reach for when we experience moments of real life happening.