For me, this speaks to the skill of just 'being in the moment', being bored, being fed up, being with our feelings our thoughts, explorig them etc. In this digital, yes, we're going to scroll, watch reels etc, but like anything else in life, this needs to be balanced with 'just being', which, with all this digital attention grabbing stuff, I feel as a society we're becoming less skilled at. Thanks for sharing, dude.
It happens -- and that's what I'm saying. Where would I be now if everything was sitting right there -- on demand? I had children's stories on vinyl singles and later cassette tape. I listened to the same < 10 min stories hundreds of times, manually moving the stylus myself from 3 or 4 yrs old. And when I got my first tape recorder and I made my own -- and so much more.
Everything is much faster now and that is in large part the problem. The quickest you could receive something ordered by mail in those days was 6-8 weeks. Iād be marking my analog calendar and be counting down every delivery like an advent calendar.
This is a thinking piece! In January 2025, I went 21 days without any social media nor YouTube. For me, YouTube is TV so that was huge. It was the best 21 days. It taught me how to disconnect and focus more without removing the distractions.
Can heavily relate to this. While the idea of simply sitting down shouldn't be counted as 'mindfulness', it is a tiny act of rebellion against the urge to pick up a phone or the remote. And that makes it a bit more profound to me.
Another great piece, Mahmoud! If youāve read my writing or watched my lives, you know how I feel about this. For various reasons most of us are resistant to just being in the moment without distractions. āRight nowā seems to scare us and so we will do anything to avoid it. But I firmly believe being alone with our thoughts and feelings, meditation, doing nothing, and allowing ourselves to be bored are not only super important for our wellbeing, but also to the creative process. So even if it starts out as just a few minutes a day, being here now, without distraction is a worthy āgoal.ā
As one of the older members on Substack, I can honestly
say all this became worse and more apparent (in my opinion) when mobile phones and internet became available to us all.
I loved growing up in the 80ās / early 90ās and if I had a Time Machine I would love to take us back there š„° things were slower, easier and less stressfulā¦ Some may say that that was being a child, but I remember how long the days were back then and how happy everyone seemed (even adults) - society was doing something right š«¶š»š«¶š»š«¶š»
I think people don't wanna be alone with their thoughts to be honest, Mahmoud. Because it's too uncomfortable, and gets so real, maybe that's why people are jumping from one thing to another.
Excellently put š I feel like it's getting worse by the day. Simply looking out the window while on the train will have some people lose their minds..
Dang, I guess I'm officially in "old-man-yelling-at-clouds"-territory š
I might try to read 17 substack posts in one day, however, why?
Now Iām gonna watch Musiala and Neuer doing their thing, without scrolling, ājustā looking into their faces. There must be a bar next to you offering a TV screen if public TV doesnāt show the match.
Iām happy not being a football fan. āØ
I am.
But I distract myself other ways too š š
For me, this speaks to the skill of just 'being in the moment', being bored, being fed up, being with our feelings our thoughts, explorig them etc. In this digital, yes, we're going to scroll, watch reels etc, but like anything else in life, this needs to be balanced with 'just being', which, with all this digital attention grabbing stuff, I feel as a society we're becoming less skilled at. Thanks for sharing, dude.
I completely agree, Lee! We need to find our way back. To challenge ourselves... And to just be sometimes
Where would I be now without the decades of nothingness pre-internet?
There was always something
Oftentimes you made it yourself. No one would make it for you.
You're right!
It happens -- and that's what I'm saying. Where would I be now if everything was sitting right there -- on demand? I had children's stories on vinyl singles and later cassette tape. I listened to the same < 10 min stories hundreds of times, manually moving the stylus myself from 3 or 4 yrs old. And when I got my first tape recorder and I made my own -- and so much more.
I think the world is so much faster now. But humans are mostly acting the same way.
Maybe more distracted but still human.
Again, thank you so much for making me think
Everything is much faster now and that is in large part the problem. The quickest you could receive something ordered by mail in those days was 6-8 weeks. Iād be marking my analog calendar and be counting down every delivery like an advent calendar.
This is a thinking piece! In January 2025, I went 21 days without any social media nor YouTube. For me, YouTube is TV so that was huge. It was the best 21 days. It taught me how to disconnect and focus more without removing the distractions.
Wow!! thatās so impressive! I donāt remember the last time I went for 2 or 3 days without social media
It takes baby steps for sure. I had already spent ~ 3 months off social media in 2024 so this was kind of a cake walk now that I think back.
I will! Thank you! This is inspiring!
You got this!
Can heavily relate to this. While the idea of simply sitting down shouldn't be counted as 'mindfulness', it is a tiny act of rebellion against the urge to pick up a phone or the remote. And that makes it a bit more profound to me.
Very well said! And I agree!! Thank you so much for reading.
Totally resonate. Weāre obsessed with doom scrolling like the phone is an extension of our hand and it canāt not have it on demand!
Well said!! And thank you so much for reading.
Another great piece, Mahmoud! If youāve read my writing or watched my lives, you know how I feel about this. For various reasons most of us are resistant to just being in the moment without distractions. āRight nowā seems to scare us and so we will do anything to avoid it. But I firmly believe being alone with our thoughts and feelings, meditation, doing nothing, and allowing ourselves to be bored are not only super important for our wellbeing, but also to the creative process. So even if it starts out as just a few minutes a day, being here now, without distraction is a worthy āgoal.ā
It absolutely is! And thank you so much for reading š«¶š«¶š«¶š«¶
As one of the older members on Substack, I can honestly
say all this became worse and more apparent (in my opinion) when mobile phones and internet became available to us all.
I loved growing up in the 80ās / early 90ās and if I had a Time Machine I would love to take us back there š„° things were slower, easier and less stressfulā¦ Some may say that that was being a child, but I remember how long the days were back then and how happy everyone seemed (even adults) - society was doing something right š«¶š»š«¶š»š«¶š»
I wish I could go back in time and live in the 90s
I think youād love it there Mahmoud š
Me too!!
It's not her fault, she's a writer. ā I can't even š
hahahahaha it's youuuuuuuuuuu
āSacredā and āscaredā are anagrams.
Why? Nothing. Just my brain doing things.
Thatās why we love your brain!!
Binge watching 17 episodes a day sounds normal to me, itās nervous system regulation sometimes š
Depends on the show!
I think people don't wanna be alone with their thoughts to be honest, Mahmoud. Because it's too uncomfortable, and gets so real, maybe that's why people are jumping from one thing to another.
Yes! I am that way too.
Excellently put š I feel like it's getting worse by the day. Simply looking out the window while on the train will have some people lose their minds..
Dang, I guess I'm officially in "old-man-yelling-at-clouds"-territory š
https://tenor.com/view/old-man-yells-at-cloud-yelling-old-man-news-the-simpsons-gif-17741451
Hahahahaha I love this Gif!! šš«¶š«¶š«¶
ā¦ or ājustā meditate. š
I never watched 17 episodes in a whole month!
I might try to read 17 substack posts in one day, however, why?
Now Iām gonna watch Musiala and Neuer doing their thing, without scrolling, ājustā looking into their faces. There must be a bar next to you offering a TV screen if public TV doesnāt show the match.
They will win! š I might watch it too!
It starts now!
Yes! I'm watching!