With the 4th of July approaching everyone is probably preparing an awesome party with fireworks, different types of decoration with the patriotic colors and tons, tons of photos. The social media will be full of every little photo and things that everybody will be doing. And okay, we feel the need to share every special moment with our friends across the world, but don’t you think that we are exaggerating a bit? (Just a bit.)

But you see, I am not against social media or anything. Actually, I love it. And as an introvert, I spend more time on the internet or reading books rather than talking with actual people. And that is a problem, you see, we as the new generation are spending so much time behind a screen that we forgot how to engage in actual conversation with real people. As a matter of fact, we try to avoid humans of flesh and blood so we can talk with total strangers on the web. Again, I am not saying that technology is bad, but as everything in life, if used in excess it will damage your health. Don’t worry, I am not going to drop the “it is bad for your health” card. What I am trying to tell you is that we should limit our usage, at least while we are with our family.

You know, our grandparents spend so much effort to make the most amazing casseroles, our aunts have been looking for the perfect dessert and our uncles for the perfect games and jokes that it would be unfair to not give them the deserved attention and spend quality time with them. Yes, spending quality time with our family and less time in the social media won’t hurt us. Actually, it will help us build better relationships with our family and beyond. Sure, there will always be those awkward questions about when are you bringing a boyfriend home or how are classes going or even you will end up babysitting half of your cousins. But that’s the fun of spending time with a family: the embarrassing, unpredictable moments and fun talks that you only have and build while spending quality time with your favorite people.

The internet won’t disappear because you spent a few hours away from it; you will always have your “Facebook friends” and Instagram followers there waiting for you. But what about your family? Are they eternal? Are they always going to be there when you decide to put your phone down? Unfortunately the answer is no. they will get tired of waiting for you, relatives will grow old and you will grow old and by the time you decide it is time to socialize you will be a complete stranger to your own family.

Okay, you might think I am overacting and stuff, so try it yourself, put your electronics down and try to connect not to the wifi but to your family’s heart; ask them to share stories and not the hotspot, try to know more about the adventures your grandparents went through and how your parents met. Try to discover yourself in your family, not behind a screen. Bottom line: it is time to look at people in their faces while talking. And no, I am not saying to use FaceTime, I am telling you to talk with real people in front of you.

So, go out there, play in the mud with your cousins, make sweet dishes with your mom and give your grandparents a hug for no apparent reason. Later on you can take pictures. Not for the sake of posting something on Facebook, but to always remember the smile on your father’s face while hugging his baby girl or your uncle's goofy face while trying to make you laugh. Family is something you will always have in your heart and you should appreciate it, not lock yourself in a virtual world making virtual friends and forget the real ones. So put your phone down and enjoy your life with your family, and trust me, you will thank me later. Just remember that there are people out there that would give every and anything to spend only an hour with their family but they can’t.

Oh and happy 4th of July to my fellow American friends (sorry for the delay) and Happy 5th of July to my family and friends in Cabo Verde (yeah I know, we have almost the same Independence Day, just hundreds of years apart. How cool is that?)