FOMO

Do you ever experience FOMO – fear of missing out? It’s something that I think about lots and it means that I try to pack in as much as possible to each day, so as not to miss anything. And you can tell where that’s going! Although I do a lot, I’m not sure I really take the time to experience it all. I spent some time with small children last weekend and noticed how, for them, everything is about ‘now’, not planning for the next thing, racing ahead in thought and action.

It struck me that, if I feel that I am missing out on something, then I probably am. But it’s not a vital work function, an exciting event, or being with another person that I’m missing: it’s that I’m missing out on the pleasure of each of the small moments. I can be only in one place at any moment in time.

As long as I am thinking of where I could be and what I could be doing, I am effectively absent from where I am right now. Which means I am nowhere. Hmmm…
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(P.S. Turns out there is a counter-movement to FOMO, called JOMO – the joy of missing out!)