Keep your head up
Everywhere I go these days, there are people walking with their heads
drooped low, eyes peering downward, unaware of what's in front and around them.
The people of this age have developed echolocation capabilities, similar to
those found in bats, dolphins and earthworms. Their extra-sensory perceptions
are tuned to stationary objects like walls, lamp-posts and doors as well as
other animate objects like fellow humans on their smartphones.
I've seen humans keenly engaging with their devices while walking down stairs, crossing the road and cycling. Today someone was standing at the opened door of a lift, blocking the way while desperately trying to reply to a text message.
Can't these messages wait? Maybe on the other end there's someone else blocking another lift whilst waiting for the response. Is there a network of distracted people, caught up in the Whatsapp fever that have plotted to block the entrances to as many elevators as possible as they type their meaningless “Helloooooos!!” to one another? There must be some data somewhere to prove me right.
There was a time when you might have said that nobody has time to “stop and smell the roses". Nowadays it’s a rare sight to find someone who has time (or inclination) to “stop and look around”. It takes a confident and exceptional person who can (I mean dares to) walk while keeping their head up, eyes observing and connected to the environment with empty hands – just like they did in the old days before our smartphones promised to make us more connected with those around us.
I've seen humans keenly engaging with their devices while walking down stairs, crossing the road and cycling. Today someone was standing at the opened door of a lift, blocking the way while desperately trying to reply to a text message.
Can't these messages wait? Maybe on the other end there's someone else blocking another lift whilst waiting for the response. Is there a network of distracted people, caught up in the Whatsapp fever that have plotted to block the entrances to as many elevators as possible as they type their meaningless “Helloooooos!!” to one another? There must be some data somewhere to prove me right.
There was a time when you might have said that nobody has time to “stop and smell the roses". Nowadays it’s a rare sight to find someone who has time (or inclination) to “stop and look around”. It takes a confident and exceptional person who can (I mean dares to) walk while keeping their head up, eyes observing and connected to the environment with empty hands – just like they did in the old days before our smartphones promised to make us more connected with those around us.