It’s a beautiful day outside - there’s not a cloud in the sky and the sun is shining. You walk outside to catch up with friends and take in the gorgeous weather, only to find that they are all on their phones.

You go to the beach to watch the sunset, just to be struck by the sight of 20+ people all looking at the same sunset, but through their screens.

Your best friend is getting married with a beautiful ceremony and you feel tears well up from their vows. You look around to see the reactions of their friends and loved ones, but they’re all too busy getting the best angle for a picture.

Are we letting technology get in the way of observing the world around us? How do we stop it?

Technology has undeniably benefited us in many ways, but over the course of the past few years, its use  has become addictive. Many people struggle with knowing when to just put the phone down.

It’s started to consume our lives; instead of living in the moment and seizing the day, we are all too focused on documenting the moments to get the most likes or views on social media.

At some point, we have to stop and ask ourselves: are we so trapped in the world of technology that we’ve forgotten about the real world right in front of our eyes?

While many have wondered about how we can stop this epidemic, those who have tried realized that we cannot. Technology has so many benefits that blind us; Our only option is to try and make people aware of the paramount beauty of the world we live in.

Those who are able to at least temporarily part with their phones will come to realize and appreciate the real world a little more. That’s another thing we should contemplate: maybe that’s how it should be -those who acknowledge the breathtaking reality of life are the ones who deserve it most.