2 minute read

21st CENTURY

by ZE

Advertisement

I am living in the 21st century.

The not so young teenager who is afraid to face adulting.

I live in a generation where I need to make sure my gadgets are charging before I go to sleep. It is a symbol of the tiredness within me, it needs a recharge session. They are waiting to wake up the next day; refreshed or reborn. I was once afraid to see my smartphone on 15% when I wake up, I felt demotivated. With the pandemic, this has changed. I am no longer afraid of my phone being low on battery because I am always at home and the power supply is a step away from me. It is bad, so bad; to see my own life almost projected as a smart gadget.

Waking up.

The natural sunlight that flows through my body before it became the hazardous blue light. Physical window frames became the 5.8 inch display.

Birds chirping and the sounds of nature became the Spotify playlist “Sunday Morning Jazz”.

The priceless morning view across the window became the post on my feed that my friend posted earlier in the morning; that is how I realise it is snowing outside.

Waking up used to be as simple as opening my eyes, going to the toilet and having breakfast. It is so different now. The first thing I open is no longer my curtains, to welcome the sunlight into the room, but instead I search for the smartphone on the bedside table to unlock the digital world. I posted an Instagram story announcing to my friends I am awake, but who cares? That is a world I assume I am connected with everyone, when in fact, I am not.

It is unbelievable that my world can now be minimised into such a small viewpoint.

As a student overseas, I do not have the chance to be close to my religion. There are no Chinese temples around London where I can go when I need to release my thoughts and ask for guidance. The Internet seems to have become a digital temple. I find myself within, I immerse in it, like food for my spirit. I know that when I need a recharge, I have a contact list to refer to; making a call to my family or friends. They do not pick up sometimes and I feel frustrated, and the emptiness invades me.

It is a digital temple, a form of ritual imagination,where I get my dose of support.

No smells of sandal incense, no distinct voice of chanting, no reverberations from the gong ringing…

Seeing became the only sense I possess at the moment. I am immersing in my virtual territory machine; spatial experience becomes vague that I no longer care about where I am. My ability to feel became so weak and insignificant.

The Internet of things (IoT) became an important part of my ritual - phone, computer, earphone, home assistance…

It is bad, so bad.

I realise the first thing I do in a day affects me.

I need to change; I miss the old me. I used to utter a prayer after I wake up.

I used to drink a cup of water after I wake up.

I used to refresh the schedule I planned out for the day in my mind after I wake up. I used to stretch myself out after I wake up.

I used to look for my glasses after I wake up.

I used to…

This article is from: