People use their smartphones, tablets and laptops throughout their daily lives. However, with the use of such devices, they distract us from the most essential thing in our lives: people interaction. We pay way too much attention to our own technological devices than to the people we are meant to spend time with. As I looked over the table from me this morning at brunch, I realized a group of three girls just staring at their phones and not talking to one another. I know that technology has become an essential part of our lives, but that does not mean that it can in any way replace human interaction. It can never replace the memories that you are making right now. Human beings may always go to technology out of habit, but we barely ever just take a moment to appreciate just being.

Every moment in life turns into a memory, whether the memory may be good or bad. However, the memory may not be memorable at all due to the use of technology being more of a priority than spending time with a friend or family member. We should not take advantage of these moments in life by just turning our heads down and focusing on our smartphones rather than making conversation with others. These interactions with others, consisting of just being and enjoying one another is something to take ahold of and appreciate before the moment is gone because in a blink of an eye that person could be gone. So, appreciate those you love and the memories to be made with them and not toss them aside just for a check of social media or for playing a game on an app.

We spend a lot of time, absorbed with our own technological devices for homework, papers, studying, keeping up to date with the news, online shopping and so on. These all are numerous ways that we use technology today, but these daily activities should not take over the time that we spend with others. Yes, these things in a sense do matter but they should not overtake the priorities of enjoying one another. The people in your life can shape you and help you perceive the things in society in a different light. Yes, technology gives us the ability to read others’ opinions on politics and policies throughout the world but it cannot depict the anger, the frustration and the criticism of people in the way of talking to an actual person.

Technology is trying to advance to a point where it could initially take over the need for human interaction. For instance, technology is trying to replace human actions by letting individuals who believe in the same causes and have the same opinions gather together online than those same groups of people meeting together in person. We have also seen this with self checkout at grocery stores where we use an automated cashier to checkout our products rather than having a person at the cashier to ring you up. Plus, there are ATM machines, which initially take over the use of tellers at banks. However, even with the initiative that technology is taking to become more essential and more efficient in our everyday lives, it takes away human interaction and appreciation. So, now and then I encourage you to put down your phone while with friends, check out with a person at the cashier, and meet others at peaceful protests for the causes you believe in. These interactions with individuals are remembered even if they may not effect you right away, you will begin to see the difference by realizing the true appreciation you have for people in your life.