Whether I am on the streets of NYC, walking across the campus at Stony Brook, in a beautiful park, in a small café having tea or, anyplace in the world, for that matter, there is always a very common dynamic taking place. People walking with their heads down. The eyes are now on the small screen. People DON’T LOOK UP ANYMORE! I don’t get it. Life is passing us by. Nobody pays attention to where they are walking. It’s unsettling. It’s annoying. It’s become a problem, and in a word, it’s irritating. Consider what happens as you walk with your head down. There are all these great visuals that you don’t see. People watching, the shop windows, the dog grabbing a frisbee in mid-air, the very talented buskers trying to make a buck, the historic landmarks, the markets, the day-to-day street life, and the culture. So many things, so much energy surrounds us wherever we are, and walking while you are looking down compromises the joy of taking all that in. Why am I the one that must be careful that the schmuck walking with their head down is going to knock me over? LOOK UP! FOCUS! CONCENTRATE and watch where you are going. Look down and life will pass you by.
