THE BLACK MIRROR

First off.  If you haven't watched the show , THE BLACK MIRROR, on Netflix, take a chance to appreciate The Twilight Zone of our time.  I love Charlie Brooker's visions of the digital world we now live in, and it's effects on our everyday interactions.  And what it has done to us as human beings...  And I hope it gives you a sense of your reflection.
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Which leads me to this conversation.  I have had the pleasure of doing live theatre in my life.  Whether it be musical theatre, opera, or a straight play, I've re-discovered the human experience.  I have met some of my closest friends through this mutual love for drama and have learned so much from this discipline.  It is a very common phrase in the theatre community to say, "live in the moment".  And with that mantra, I've been able to really expand my mind, explore conversation, and experience life lessons that I never thought would come from a stage.  It is pivotal in an acting scene to feel the energy of the room, your fellow actor(s)/actress(es), and your audience.  And that may be the very reason why it can be such an addictive experience and why people pursue it as a career, why I am pursuing it.  I hope every single human being gets the chance to at least take a class, be in a play/musical, and/or star in their very own movie!

So that leads me to what fueled these thoughts...
I am currently the main house manager for the Gazillion Bubble Show.  And at this job, among other things, I have had to question OUR FUTURE.  The Bubble Show is geared towards young children and those young children bring their zombie parents (a majority but not all.  There's some good gems :-D) to this beautiful show/experience.  Instead of being able to see a once in a lifetime experience, all I see DURING the show, is a sea of cell-phones.  Checking emails, looking at FaceBook, SnapChatting the show, Tweeting Donald Trump their next plans to rule the world, texting Bae that she missed out on a crazy show!  All for what?!?  You paid $45-$99.50 a pop to be here!  Your family, your CHILDREN are more human than you will ever be!  

And THIS IS WHY I'M HERE!  WHY I RANT!  ON A BLACK MIRROR MYSELF TO TELL YOU TO PUT IT DOWN!  LOOK UP! LOOK AROUND!  FEEL SOMETHING FOR GOD SAKES!  THIS IS NOW ABOUT ALL OF YOU!  MY COLLECTIVE AUDIENCE!  When you're at dinner with friends and/or family, PUT IT DOWN!  Talk to people!  I don't care if it was your baby's first time eating an ice cream cone and you wanna capture this sweet precious moment!  CAPTURE IT BY ENJOYING THE FREAKING ICE CREAM WITH THEM!  GRRRRRAHHHH!!!!

Okay...  I think I'm calm now.  Phew!  Seriously folks.  
We need to take in these moments more.  Our phones should be tools, not distractions.  We are becoming more addicted than we have ever imagined.  I promise you, the life you are seeking is right in front of you, when you turn it all off.  When your face is buried in a glowing piece of glass, you miss the flowers you just passed walking to work. You miss the possibility of discovering new things about your best friend you see all the time.  Sure, take a photo, share your art, share your life, but don't forget to live it.

I am in no means trying to talk from a pedestal here.  I'm down there on the ground with you.  I need to put the screens down just as much as the next person.  And I'm striving to be better.  In doing so, we will all experience more.  Our sleep gets better, our conversations richer, our meals tastier, our bodies relax more...  We need to live through our lives more than try to escape from them.  The healing that needs to happen for you, is actually to live through the pain.  We not only hurt ourselves when we escape, but we then affect the community around us, the world around us.  

I challenge you to put your phone down.  Put your tablet down.  Turn off your TV.  Close your eyes.  Breathe.  And take life in.  "Live in the moment".  Live Whole-Heartedly.  And let's get Closer to Kindness.  I love you all!  You all inspire me to be better and I hope I can inspire you to do the same!

With Peace,
Kiet