A Generation of Looking Down... Must Start Looking Up

I've begun my own social, or rather anti-social, experiment. I wanted to know what life was like without social media. Of course, plenty of people don't use social media or pick and choose their favorites. But I'll admit I was one of the biggest culprits of social media overuse. Therefore, I'm the very demographic I'm speaking to. 

In today's day, we're more concerned with the filter of a picture than what's happening in the photo. How many times do you scroll through your Instagram and Facebook just judging and deeming whether it deserves a like? We spend our valuable and limited time cropping, adding clever hashtags and collaging. 

Well I wanted to know what I would do with the extra time. What will I see when I'm not walking and looking at someone's check-in at the same time? What will I do when I'm in an awkward situation and don't have Newsfeed to turn to? And really, what will I do when I'm out having fun and don't have somewhere to put the picture? I guess I'd just have to just continue actually having fun.

So I'm setting out on this experience. Why now? Could be a New Years resolution, or it could be that I've lived in a city for half a year and I can't honestly say that I've really seen it. Could I describe the streets to you? No. Could I picture the places that I have been? Only from what's in my camera roll.

Even though I may forget some birthdays (I apologize in advance, friends), and even though I may not know what everyone is up to... At least I'll continue living my life, save some phone battery, gain some time, and maybe live a life eventually worth sharing.

Let me take you on this experiment. The goal is to share the beauty of daily experiences we normally miss with social media. The moments we lose, the world we don't notice, and the things we use to do without social media. And of course, every now and then I'll let you know how I'm holding up. As many of you have already said I wouldn't last for more than two months. So here we go. 

As a part of a generation that looks down at a screen instead of looking up at the world... I'm finally opening my eyes. And I'll let you know what I see.