Unplugged Happiness

While taking a two year hiatus on blogging on the Cynful Wire, I have been reflecting on the pursuit of happiness. If writing keeps me happy, what should I write (other than poetry)? Every day of the year seemed to be playing endlessly on repeat.... Having to bargain my way with every day mindless hum drum -- unpleasant road-raged drivers or commuters too eager to plop their faces onto a smartphone screen to take notice of anything else. This is my typical every day bus commute: a man taking two seats on a full bus, blissfully oblivious playing a game on his smartphone; he must have paid double fare for the seat of his backpack while an elderly lady hangs onto the rail for dear life. A mere "hello, excuse me" elicited no acknowledgement out of this gentlemanly stranger.

Try this point challenge, especially if you take public transit. Count how many people (including ourselves) have their eyes glued onto an electronic device screen. One point per bus passenger. Add 10 points if you see a driver texting and driving.

It has been three weeks since I have de-activated my Facebook. Since then, I have been able to focus on my studying a whole lot better -- rather than spending time on writing updates on studying. Laughable, isn't it?!

Unplugging from Facebook can seem terrifying at first -- but then, I remember how exhausting it is to keep up with up-to-the-minute details on my family, friends and acquaintances' lives. It has been amazing how much my stress levels has dropped -- without realizing how I unhappy I was, comparing my busy uneventful life with that of others. It also stopped me from living vicariously through others and having to worry about "being watched" closely -- or if a post would portray me as a narcissist. Quitting Facebook doesn't mean I am turning anti-social; if anything, it allows more face time. (Ironic, isn't it?) If anyone wanted to keep in touch, I'm only a phone call or an email away. Even better, I am finding the time to write thoughtful snail mails --things that only seem possible in times before the era of social media.

Another unplugging challenge is obvious: cellphone use. Figure out how much your smartphone usage is costing you on an annual basis. Factor the 3% average annual inflation cost -- so, multiply the cost of your annual cellphone bill by 1.03. If you are in a cellphone contract, multiply that number by the total number of years. Say, without including how much the cellphone costed, here's a rough estimate: an average of $55 per month x 12 months x 3 years x 1.03 x 1.03 x 1.03. That cellphone will eat away at least $2,163.41 over the span of 3 years -- $680.00 annually that could grow slowly at 1.20% in a tax-free savings account. Now, include the initial cost of your cellphone minus what you could sell it for -- does keeping in contact with everyone has to cost us our limb? Then, note how many impulse purchases we make from having convenient access to the Internet. Can we differentiate needs from wants?

Being plugged in kind of reminds me of a scene in the Pixar movie Wall-E. It is the part where humans would sit comfortably obese in their chairs, doing everything through a screen, oblivious to the existence of a swimming pool.

Once we start looking beyond our personalized bubbles, then, we can be more aware of how our actions can impact others and ourselves. To do good as a eco-global citizen requires more than liking an environmental or activist group -- it requires our genuine passion and planned action. We have to be good loving neighbours to be respectful citizens. Go ahead -- be fearless, unplug and be happy!