A Lesson in Presence

I’ve just returned from my trip to Belgium and London. It was a whirlwind, one I tried to share online but often found myself forgetting to post about what I was up to. Initially, I was frustrated with myself for not being consistent, for not sharing the wonderful time I was having. But then I took a step back and savoured the fact that I had found myself being too “busy” being in the moment of my adventures that I wasn’t being distracted by the habit of being on social media.

Having my camera added a particular buffer that I appreciated. One of the reasons I wanted to shift to using a camera rather than just my phone for pictures was that it would create more intentionality when taking photos, particularly while travelling. This goal was fulfilled, and additionally, it disrupted the usual pattern of going straight to  Instagram to create a story to capture the moment. This disruption allowed for a greater appreciation and presence in the experiences.

Travel has always served as an opportunity for exploration, adventure and curiosity. Staying in it, not continuously posting let these values flourish. This reflection on my detachment from posting is leading me to think further about how to create more of these deliberate, present moments in my day-to-day life. I still want to engage on social media, on my personal account, to share my experiences with those who matter to me and use it as a tool to stay connected, but I want to take this as an opportunity to consider how to do this without disrupting the moment as it unfolds.