Last week I stuck a post-it note to the front of my phone that said, “What are you looking for?” The idea came from a podcast I listen to called Offline, which is in large part about what the internet is doing to our brains and our politics. But the hosts are also currently in the midst of a series of challenges meant to interrupt their smartphone addictions. These challenges include using a flip phone for a week, some mindfulness exercises, and ludicrously large and absurdly designed phone cases among other things. The post-it idea wasn’t even part of the challenge, but it was a recommendation from a listener and I took it to heart.
I have to say, I have come to really love these posts. This one resonated hard. And it has me thinking about the irony of a tool that brought people together in ways that seemed impossible before and then turned into a monstrous tool that we couldn’t control.
thank you!! the irony is so real! I was thinking a lot about that too as I was writing it, because it's played so big a role in me finding communities (and you!) but has also been so fraught and out of control.
I have to say, I have come to really love these posts. This one resonated hard. And it has me thinking about the irony of a tool that brought people together in ways that seemed impossible before and then turned into a monstrous tool that we couldn’t control.
Your insights continue to be wonderful.
thank you!! the irony is so real! I was thinking a lot about that too as I was writing it, because it's played so big a role in me finding communities (and you!) but has also been so fraught and out of control.
Sara,
You just saved me the cost of a therapy session. I'm upping my contribution!
haha i'm glad! definitely pulled a lot of this from my own conversations with my therapist too!