This seemingly small incident turned into a powerful lesson about awareness and the consequences of distraction. One morning, I parked my car on a hilly roadside to begin my walk. Habitually, I opened my phone to check for notifications, not thinking much of it.

In that moment, I heard a strange noise, like stones moving outside the car. I froze for a few seconds, unsure of what was happening, but when the sound stopped, I thought little of it and quickly became absorbed in my phone again. Minutes later, I gathered my belongings and started my walk.

Half an hour into my walk, I received an anonymous call. The person on the other end introduced themselves as someone who had found my number on the visiting card I had left on the dashboard. They informed me that earth-moving work was taking place uphill, and my car was in the way.

It dawned on me that the noise I had heard earlier was likely from loose stones or machinery moving nearby, which could have posed a real risk to my car.

This experience was a wake-up call. I realized that while I had been engrossed in my phone, I had completely neglected the environment around me. My attention was so fragmented that I missed crucial details, even though they were right in front of me.

The incident served as a reminder of how easily we can be distracted by technology, losing touch with the present moment. It reinforced the importance of staying mindful and aware, not just for our safety but also to fully engage with the world around us. In a world full of distractions, being present is the most important choice we can make.

Photo by Braden Collum on Unsplash