Present in a world of technology... how does one do it?

“The way we live now, where we’re forever sending off emails and texts, fielding cell phone calls: where we’re no longer any one place but everywhere-and nowhere-at once” - Jeffrey Eugenides 

“The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence” - Thich Nhat Hanh 

Reading those two quotes can make us take a moment to stop and think about how we use technology. There are many advantages to being connected all the time, but to every advantage there is a disadvantage. Technology can distract us from what is happening in the now and take us away from living in the moment. We have all experienced this when at a dinner and someone takes their phone out to respond to a message or take a call. How does that make us feel? Probably not so great. However, we have all pulled out our phones at one time or another at a dinner too! We can assume the person on the other side of the table did not feel great at that moment either. 

We can use Thich Nhat Hanh’s quote to remind ourselves that being present around others is the greatest form of respect and we can communicate effectively when we are living in the moment. 

Next time you find yourself reaching for your phone, take a moment to pause and think about being in the present.