How to feel more alive

“Try to learn to breathe deeply, really taste your food when you eat….Try as much as possible to be wholly alive, with all your might, and when you laugh, laugh like hell. And when you get angry, get good and angry. Try to be alive.” ~William Saroyan

Lately I’ve been seeing more articles with statistics detailing the perils of experiencing life primarily through screens and devices. If we’re not scrolling our cell phones, we’re watching TV or staring at a laptop or a computer monitor (like I’m doing right now). The Internet has made it possible for us to read and publish articles, watch videos, find new recipes, and chat with friends anywhere, just for starters.

Ironically, this digital dependance explains why of so many people feel lonely and disconnected — and even a little numb — sometimes. Human beings are wired to enjoy three-dimensional experience — but we’re not getting as much of it when we’re glued to our devices.

Every time I go for a walk on a local nature trail, I notice that most of the other people on the path are looking down at their phones and chattering loudly. They’re not listening to the birds or the wooded silence; they don’t seem to be admiring the landscape. Why did they bother to seek out a nature trail for a walk?

Today’s quote is a wake-up call to put down our cell phones, pay attention to our surroundings, and savor the flavors and colors of real life. ~CL