Forget the presents, let's all be present

My new years resolution, that I have decided to start a few weeks early, is to be more present.

Wouldn't it be nice to be able to sit down for dinner with someone and them not have to check their email, a sports update, or a social media site? Wouldn't it be nice if you could spend the holiday season telling your memories as you remember them, instead of pulling out your phone, logging into instagram and just showing the pictures that you have had the most likes on?

My biggest wish, and the best present that I could receive this year, is that the people that I surround myself with, will feel no need to check the stock market, bring up Adele's live performance, or the KY dude who is killing it on the Voice, but instead, will engage in conversation, make new memories, and reminisce on times that went by too quickly.

This year, the only thing my dad asked for Christmas, was for each of his kids to write in a journal all of the memories, good and bad, that we remember while growing up. While writing in my journal that I plan to give to him on Christmas, not one of those memories involve a phone. Not one of those memories involve some sort of social media account. However, every memory that I remembered from a young age until now had one thing in common, and it was a time that neither one of us had our phones out, that we were both totally present at a moment in time.

There are memories that I can still hear him laughing at me, or me laughing at him. One specific memory, that all of us kids can attest to, is sitting indian style in the kitchen floor on Sunday nights watching my dad make the best damn milkshake in town. When we were younger, we thought he put magic in that blender. Now that we are older, we know that it was just pure love. 

I guess my point is, is the memories I remember with my family, the ones that I really remember, are the ones when I am completely there. As you get older, because we all inevitably do, don't you want to look back and remember things other than being consumed by technology? I'll be honest, I couldn't tell you what I looked at on my phone and saw an hour ago, but I could tell you what me and a friend talked about a week ago, because that is what is important to me.

My challenge to you not only this holiday season but into the new year, is to put your phone down, push your stress aside, stop worrying about yesterday, tomorrow or next year and just. be. present.

In the long run, your friends and loved ones will appreciate the fact that you will be present, and that will be the best present of all.