When you were in my belly, Daddy and I would talk about the things that we would do with you, wonder the places you will go, and the things you will experience, who you will be, and how you will change the world. I think most parents do this as they patiently, or impatiently (me) wait for your arrival. I know we did.
However, soon after you were born, I began to wonder, what your world would be like, and what the world you live in will be like as you grow. My world changed drastically as I grew up, and everyone of my generation. We are the last generation to know what life was like before cell phones, tablets, Siri, Ecko, and whatever else there is, the list seems endless these days.
We are the last generation to play outside in the summer until the streetlights came on. Drawing or making bases in the street to play kickball, was the BEST thing to do in the summer! Sure we had video games and played those too, but they weren't connected to others around the world like they are today. We played Super Mario Brothers, and duck Hunt, not Minecraft and Call of Duty.
We know what records are, cassette tapes, cd's and having the coolest stereo was everything growing up. Now you know what pandora, spotify, amazon music, and you tube are before you even hit elementary school, and you recognize the icons too. One could argue that its emergent reading and a good thing, but sometimes I'm not so sure about that. These items I'm speaking of are ancient to you.
You will grow up in a world where everything is at your fingertips, the internet will be part of your life, and I'm pretty sure you already have an idea what google is. Growing up we had to wait to dial up to the internet, I know, you are asking "what does that even mean?" "You mean you can't just look on your phone?"
There was no rules in my house growing up that there were no cell phones at dinner, because simply there were no cell phones. I know crazy right? Then when cell phones did become popular, we didn't have these things like Facebook, SnapChat, Instagram and Twitter. I think the closest comparable thing that we had was our nextel, which bleep bleeped to alert you a friend wanted to talk. Not a notification on what someone is eating for dinner, or their latest selfie. The biggest excitement on our phones was Snake, and we text using T-9 word.
It's a scary world out there, I see people losing their sense of reality. What really matters in life. They are so caught up in capturing the moment with their matching outfits, latest vacation, or delicious meal.
It seems as if our society has lost touch with the sense of NOW. When in reality, NOW is all we ever have. We aren't promised tomorrow, yesterday is gone, so all YOU will EVER HAVE is NOW. Society seems to want this instant gratification, which is a motivating factor to why everything they do must be posted. That is fine, but only as long as you remember what its like to be here, and be present. You can be next to someone and still not be present, and that my little one's scares me.
However, soon after you were born, I began to wonder, what your world would be like, and what the world you live in will be like as you grow. My world changed drastically as I grew up, and everyone of my generation. We are the last generation to know what life was like before cell phones, tablets, Siri, Ecko, and whatever else there is, the list seems endless these days.
We are the last generation to play outside in the summer until the streetlights came on. Drawing or making bases in the street to play kickball, was the BEST thing to do in the summer! Sure we had video games and played those too, but they weren't connected to others around the world like they are today. We played Super Mario Brothers, and duck Hunt, not Minecraft and Call of Duty.
We know what records are, cassette tapes, cd's and having the coolest stereo was everything growing up. Now you know what pandora, spotify, amazon music, and you tube are before you even hit elementary school, and you recognize the icons too. One could argue that its emergent reading and a good thing, but sometimes I'm not so sure about that. These items I'm speaking of are ancient to you.
You will grow up in a world where everything is at your fingertips, the internet will be part of your life, and I'm pretty sure you already have an idea what google is. Growing up we had to wait to dial up to the internet, I know, you are asking "what does that even mean?" "You mean you can't just look on your phone?"
There was no rules in my house growing up that there were no cell phones at dinner, because simply there were no cell phones. I know crazy right? Then when cell phones did become popular, we didn't have these things like Facebook, SnapChat, Instagram and Twitter. I think the closest comparable thing that we had was our nextel, which bleep bleeped to alert you a friend wanted to talk. Not a notification on what someone is eating for dinner, or their latest selfie. The biggest excitement on our phones was Snake, and we text using T-9 word.
It's a scary world out there, I see people losing their sense of reality. What really matters in life. They are so caught up in capturing the moment with their matching outfits, latest vacation, or delicious meal.
It seems as if our society has lost touch with the sense of NOW. When in reality, NOW is all we ever have. We aren't promised tomorrow, yesterday is gone, so all YOU will EVER HAVE is NOW. Society seems to want this instant gratification, which is a motivating factor to why everything they do must be posted. That is fine, but only as long as you remember what its like to be here, and be present. You can be next to someone and still not be present, and that my little one's scares me.
So, My Hope for you is that you grow up in a world knowing all of these things are privileges. That nothing compares to time spent with family creating memories.
I hope that I can teach you how to be present, and mindful of the life you live, and navigate this world. I hope that you learn what real relationships look like, and can be.
I hope you know that the things you see on the internet are only two dimensional, and that LIFE is three dimensional.
I hope you understand that things will be hard, yet it is better to vent to a friend or perhaps me, than air it out on social media.
I hope that you understand the VALUE of literally having everything at your fingertip, but never take it as a sense of entitlement.
I hope that you know love, compassion and empathy for others.
I hope that in this scary world where everyone is living for the next moment, or talking about what happened in the past moment, that you, my dears know how to live in the PRESENT Moment.
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