Life in between Screens, Scrolls and Social Media

We all scroll.

We all comment.

We all repost.

In this age of digital world, we chase sparks of validations from others through our social media.We all raise our voices through a screen when we see a issue arising around but when something unjust happens right in front of us, most of us go silent.

Maybe it’s fear. Maybe it’s habit. Or maybe it’s because our validation now lives in little numbers likes, shares, followers.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot, especially after finishing The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. Honestly, what a refreshing read. Reading this beautiful novel pressed a gentle pause on my constant scrolling brain. This story is about Nora, who is undoing her regrets through a library which gives her chances to live her that version of herself which she couldn’t be in her actual life (I shouldn’t be spoiling the whole book) and realises that no life is perfect. The other theory which interested me in this book is “Dunbar’s number”, which states human beings ideally are wired to maintain only 150 meaningful relationships quite ironical to our social media followers isn’t it? Exactly!

And maybe I’m writing this because I’m in that space myself. I’m about to finish my degree, and yet, I don’t feel “sorted.” As a kid, I thought life would make sense after Year 12. Then I thought it would make sense in uni. Now, with graduation around the corner, I still feel like I’m figuring it all out. There’s this unspoken urgency to figure everything out.

But maybe that’s the point. Maybe life isn’t about waiting for the after version of us — the one who is successful, accomplish and everything in place self. Maybe it’s about acknowledging our “present self”, the one who is tired but trying and still showing up every day. We don’t give enough credit to this version of ourselves. We keep waiting for clarity and our perfect self. Here’s to slowing down and valuing present moment and being satisfied and grateful in “now”.

Because sometimes life feels complete in messy, imperfect and yet beautiful in unfiltered moments that don’t need an audience!