2000? I was born in 1954, and I until I read your article Mansi, I from my perspective never thought someone born in 2000 would also feel the effects of technology separating us from a real life. Thank you for your list! I turned the ringer off my phone after I first bought it. Push notifications are always set on off. Thank you!
I always say that deep down, I feel way older than my actual age. I have never lived in a first world country but the limited exposure I have had via movies/tv shows makes me think that it used to be a different world altogether back then. With the pace at which life is moving now, I think intentionality is the right way to go. I love that you keep the ringer off in your phone. I think this is such a nice step to consciously stay away from the virtual world. Something I’ll try to be intentional about as well!
This is a really great list Minaz, filled with so many reminders of things we can do without our phones! I keep the ringer off on my phone and I also only get text reminders. We spend way too much time reliant on our phones.
I agree with you, we spend more time on our phones than we should. Being intentional about reducing our screen times is the only way to go. I also believe that nobody can force this change on us. It will only happen if we genuinely want to live a peaceful life.
When I quit Instagram 3 years ago, I remember reaching out for my phone and searching for the app automatically. It becomes a muscle memory after a point which I don't like
Oh, this is fabulous. I was born in 1971 and I got my first phone in around 2002 (I think). When my husband and I lived in London we had pagers to get in touch with each other during our commutes 🤣 And I had a pager for the hospital where I worked as well.
During my long commutes I would read - medical papers, studying and I taught myself Spanish.
Thank you for sharing your experience! I have never used a pager but honestly, it does sound better than constantly staying on the phone. Times were definitely simpler back then.
I was born in the 70s, it was a childhood with nature: drowning out ants underneath after picking up a big rock, riding a bike to visit my friend who lives across the way, playing badminton at the playground, jumping ropes at the garden, playing hide-and-seek with neighbors in the garden/park in the neighborhood…
This sounds so beautiful. Honestly, if the kids of this generation can experience even 50% of what you described above, their childhood will be blessed.🤍
Wow, that short was powerful, and very true to life as we know it now.
I was born in 1968, way before mobile phones existed. We had a landline that was attached to a cord, connected to the wall. Life was way simpler back then. It's scary how we've become so reliant on our phones now. For many of us, our whole lives are on our phones, from banking, shopping, eating out and maps.
I loved your list of ways to remove ourselves from our phones. Thank you for sharing 😊🙏
I was born in 1987 and wasn’t allowed to get a phone til I could drive (and it was a little Nokia that only texted/called). I had to use the internet on our family computer in the hallway. It’s funny to think back now because when Instagram first came out, I didn’t want and it took me a year or two before I did. I recently deleted social media off my phone so I have to use it from a computer and it has made a huge difference!
Wow! I love reading about everyone's unique experience with social media as times keep changing. Having no app in the phone does make a HUGE difference, you are right. You cannot get used to something you don't have the convenience to access right away.
There are good uses for those old iPods. I buy them cheep, load them with public domain audiobooks, and loan them to friends who are vision impaired, can’t use traditional books for various reasons or love listening to good books when they are doing other things.
That is such a wonderful idea!! Oh man, I wish I though about it too. Thank you for sharing this. And kudos to you for being so thoughtful! We need more people like you in this world ✨
Heh! More of me? The gods grant the wishes of those they would destroy.
But I do love giving yesterday’s high tech a lease on life and I doubly love using it to brighten someone’s life.
My son in law recently bought his 95 year old blind cowboy grandfather an Alexa Dot and taught him how to use it. Now grandpa can make phone calls (“Alex, call . . . “), listen to audiobooks, know the weather and time, and more just by asking Alexa.
That is when tech goes from being interesting to becoming beautiful.
I agree! And I feel like this is exactly how it should be used as well. Blend it with intention and it's a super powerful tool for those who can really benefit from it.
A rich list, Mansi, thank you. One of the things I'm particularly grateful for is growing up in a rural setting. There was not much technology, and we weren't rich enough to afford what would count us classy at the time.
At 34, sometimes I feel old. I see young people who think food comes from Uber Eats and dates come from Tinder. It's like life would stop for them if their phones stopped working or the internet crashed.
I still think the best way to live is to come into things, not be born into them. In this way, you get to know the many other ways that life can be.
I don't use technology more than I need to accomplish something. Technology is good, but I actually feel for someone deprived of the natural so much as to ever believe phones are a substitute for the offline life. They are not, and they will never be.
I could honestly sit and read your words for hours Patrick, you have so much wisdom that I am really grateful to have come across here on Substack.
Coming into things instead of being born into them- I agree with you 💯. I feel that I experienced the same in my life hence know the value of a life where cellphones are not everything. I wish the kids who are born now can experience that level of beauty in their childhood (as well as adult life).
2000? I was born in 1954, and I until I read your article Mansi, I from my perspective never thought someone born in 2000 would also feel the effects of technology separating us from a real life. Thank you for your list! I turned the ringer off my phone after I first bought it. Push notifications are always set on off. Thank you!
I always say that deep down, I feel way older than my actual age. I have never lived in a first world country but the limited exposure I have had via movies/tv shows makes me think that it used to be a different world altogether back then. With the pace at which life is moving now, I think intentionality is the right way to go. I love that you keep the ringer off in your phone. I think this is such a nice step to consciously stay away from the virtual world. Something I’ll try to be intentional about as well!
This is a really great list Minaz, filled with so many reminders of things we can do without our phones! I keep the ringer off on my phone and I also only get text reminders. We spend way too much time reliant on our phones.
Thank you! 🙏
I agree with you, we spend more time on our phones than we should. Being intentional about reducing our screen times is the only way to go. I also believe that nobody can force this change on us. It will only happen if we genuinely want to live a peaceful life.
I really dislike the way my hand automatically reaches for it - it's hard wired in and like an habit it takes some breaking.
When I quit Instagram 3 years ago, I remember reaching out for my phone and searching for the app automatically. It becomes a muscle memory after a point which I don't like
I feel the same way Louise. I have managed to at least not reaching for it at night.
Oh, this is fabulous. I was born in 1971 and I got my first phone in around 2002 (I think). When my husband and I lived in London we had pagers to get in touch with each other during our commutes 🤣 And I had a pager for the hospital where I worked as well.
During my long commutes I would read - medical papers, studying and I taught myself Spanish.
It's a bit different now.
Thank you for sharing your experience! I have never used a pager but honestly, it does sound better than constantly staying on the phone. Times were definitely simpler back then.
I was born in 1978 and was fascinated by pagers.
I was born in the 70s, it was a childhood with nature: drowning out ants underneath after picking up a big rock, riding a bike to visit my friend who lives across the way, playing badminton at the playground, jumping ropes at the garden, playing hide-and-seek with neighbors in the garden/park in the neighborhood…
This sounds so beautiful. Honestly, if the kids of this generation can experience even 50% of what you described above, their childhood will be blessed.🤍
Wow, that short was powerful, and very true to life as we know it now.
I was born in 1968, way before mobile phones existed. We had a landline that was attached to a cord, connected to the wall. Life was way simpler back then. It's scary how we've become so reliant on our phones now. For many of us, our whole lives are on our phones, from banking, shopping, eating out and maps.
I loved your list of ways to remove ourselves from our phones. Thank you for sharing 😊🙏
Thank you Debbie. Life is certainly getting complex day by day.
A beautiful list.
Thank you!✨
I was born in 1987 and wasn’t allowed to get a phone til I could drive (and it was a little Nokia that only texted/called). I had to use the internet on our family computer in the hallway. It’s funny to think back now because when Instagram first came out, I didn’t want and it took me a year or two before I did. I recently deleted social media off my phone so I have to use it from a computer and it has made a huge difference!
Wow! I love reading about everyone's unique experience with social media as times keep changing. Having no app in the phone does make a HUGE difference, you are right. You cannot get used to something you don't have the convenience to access right away.
Thank you for including me in this post 🙏🌿
💛💛
There are good uses for those old iPods. I buy them cheep, load them with public domain audiobooks, and loan them to friends who are vision impaired, can’t use traditional books for various reasons or love listening to good books when they are doing other things.
That is such a wonderful idea!! Oh man, I wish I though about it too. Thank you for sharing this. And kudos to you for being so thoughtful! We need more people like you in this world ✨
Heh! More of me? The gods grant the wishes of those they would destroy.
But I do love giving yesterday’s high tech a lease on life and I doubly love using it to brighten someone’s life.
My son in law recently bought his 95 year old blind cowboy grandfather an Alexa Dot and taught him how to use it. Now grandpa can make phone calls (“Alex, call . . . “), listen to audiobooks, know the weather and time, and more just by asking Alexa.
That is when tech goes from being interesting to becoming beautiful.
I agree! And I feel like this is exactly how it should be used as well. Blend it with intention and it's a super powerful tool for those who can really benefit from it.
Kudos to your son in law for doing this!
That’s incredible.
Beautifully penned.
More power to you, @Mansi Kwatra
Thank you so much!✨
Great list with great reminders. I’m inspired 🫶
Thank you so much for taking out the time to read my post. I'm glad it resonated with you!✨
Beautiful
A rich list, Mansi, thank you. One of the things I'm particularly grateful for is growing up in a rural setting. There was not much technology, and we weren't rich enough to afford what would count us classy at the time.
At 34, sometimes I feel old. I see young people who think food comes from Uber Eats and dates come from Tinder. It's like life would stop for them if their phones stopped working or the internet crashed.
I still think the best way to live is to come into things, not be born into them. In this way, you get to know the many other ways that life can be.
I don't use technology more than I need to accomplish something. Technology is good, but I actually feel for someone deprived of the natural so much as to ever believe phones are a substitute for the offline life. They are not, and they will never be.
Thanks for sharing my meditations as well.
I could honestly sit and read your words for hours Patrick, you have so much wisdom that I am really grateful to have come across here on Substack.
Coming into things instead of being born into them- I agree with you 💯. I feel that I experienced the same in my life hence know the value of a life where cellphones are not everything. I wish the kids who are born now can experience that level of beauty in their childhood (as well as adult life).
Thanks!
But no matter how many ever things or ideas we gain to put our phone aside, we will eventually touch our phones
I'm glad you found it useful Sherry💛