Let me tell you something that really surprised me. I just took four flights, in and out of Los Angeles, to spend some time on vacation. I left behind the constant noise of TikTok, Instagram, the scrolling headlines and the “BREAKING NEWS” banners that seem to flash every five minutes. And what I found when I stepped into the real world was…surprisingly, PEACE. Kindness. Smiles. Humanity.
People held the door for each other. Strangers cracked jokes in security lines. Women complimenting outfits and inquiring about books. People making conversation and gratefully normalcy. Everyone, flight attendants, baristas, families, solo travelers seemed calm. Nobody was panicking. Nobody was fighting about politics in the aisles. Nobody was “doom scrolling” out loud. No one was having meltdowns in airports. Not one.
In fact, it felt like life. Real life. Not curated content, not a comment section warzone. Just people being people living and dare I say having a good time appreciating life.
And it hit me: the internet is not real life.
We’ve been hypnotized into thinking the digital world is the world. But it’s not. It’s a slice. A sometimes exaggerated, algorithmically curated slice that often amplifies fear, division, and chaos because that’s what keeps us “engaged.”
But when you unplug, really unplug and go out into the actual world, what you’ll often find is softness. Connection. Eye contact. Trees still growing. Kids still laughing. People still figuring things out and moving through their day. And that reminder alone is medicine.
I’m not saying to ignore what’s happening in the world. I’m not naïve. Yes, systems are shifting. Yes, some structures are crumbling. Yes, there are things we must pay attention to, care about, and work to change. But we cannot forget how to live while we’re doing that work.
We need the touchstones of reality: community, nature, movement, breath. We need porch conversations and grocery store banter and dinner tables where phones stay in purses. We need to walk around our neighborhoods, visit new places, meet new people, and remember that we are part of something real, not just something virtual.
Social media can be powerful, it connects, educates, inspires. But too much of it, without balance, will distort your view. You’ll start thinking the world is a scary, angry, burning place, and that people are just awful. But they’re not. Most people are decent. Most people want to get home to their loved ones and maybe eat a sandwich in peace.
So here’s what I’m inviting:
✨ Put your feet in the grass.
✨ Compliment someone’s outfit at the coffee shop.
✨ Notice how the wind smells after it rains.
✨ Talk to your ancestors.
✨ Make something with your hands.
✨ Turn your phone off for a full day—yes, really.
The real world still exists.
It’s slower, sweeter, and more soul-nourishing than the scroll.
Let’s not forget to live in it. Meanwhile, let’s start a conversation. What is it like when you unplug? I would love to hear your experiences. xoxo ❤️
—Donna
