Put down the phone: Don’t let tech prevent your present moment

This past year, I witnessed a fantastic flamenco performance in southern Spain. The recollection remains crystal clear. I can almost hear the crisp staccato of the tapping shoes echoing off the wooden floor and picture the dancer gliding gracefully across the stage, seamlessly blending with the strums of the guitar, the rhythmic clapping, and the vocal contributions from her accompanying performers.

It was an unforgettably mesmerizing show in the cradle of flamenco.

However, I believe there’s an additional explanation for why the show remains so vivid in my memory.

"Please refrain from taking photographs or recording videos," the dancer requested of the audience as the performance started.

The request was not exactly disappointing but rather more confusing. It has become typical to quickly pull out a phone and record the moment as a keepsake or to post online. Additionally, I like capturing photographs and videos.

Without the capability to record, I became disconnected from my phone. Surprisingly, this had a significant impact.

I don't have any pictures from the event, but I think being fully engaged actually resulted in more vivid recollections.

“We feel that audiences have stopped seeing us in real life and are instead seeing us through their phones,” Isabel Alarcón , the dancer that evening, told me when I asked why she felt so strongly about enforcing the no-photo policy.

“They travel to Seville to experience flamenco in person, and once there, they put a screen between themselves and us,” she said. “We artists try to connect with the audience; we are flesh and blood, we put our hearts into every show, and in return, we only ask that the audience be willing to feel, be truly there, show us the respect of being present, of listening to us, of feeling us.”

I was reminded of this last weekend while watching The Masters golf tournament , which enforces A stringent ban on phones for spectators—a uncommon practice in the current landscape of live sporting events. Spot anything absent from this picture?

Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist and author of the popular book The Anxious Generation , calls smartphones “experience blockers.”

I'm not advocating for complete digital abstinence. Cameras help document the past. Furthermore, despite its drawbacks, social media has the potential to do much good.

“Someone on the other side of the world could barely know me, and now I can reach them more easily,” said Alarcón, the flamenco dancer. “Social media gives artists the power to have their own showcase in which to define and connect.”

Seattle-based singer-songwriter Alie Renee of Byland said she won’t ask people to stop filming or take photos during shows. For her, it’s about making sure the audience enjoys their experience with the music.

We aim for our viewers to experience deep emotion, support, and safety—making them feel free to fully embrace their feelings," she stated. "Should anyone leave our performance feeling noticed, understood, and somewhat uplifted, we will have achieved our objective.

Various artistic expressions and human encounters It might require varying approaches when interacting with technology. Maybe finding a middle ground is necessary.

A few weeks ago, I went to the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit in Seattle, and upon entering, I noticed an intriguing sign at the doorway stating "photography welcome."

Chihuly’s colorful glass installations appear as though they were made for an Instagram account. Or what was once known as Instagram — whereas Flamenco’s transient essence requires your attendance.

Perhaps there’s a sweet spot — grabbing a quick photo or video and then putting the phone away.

However, the flamenco performance demonstrated that keeping the phone hidden away genuinely improved the overall enjoyment.

It was a reminder to be more present. We shouldn’t miss the moments and memories while they’re happening right in front of us.

Thich Nhat Hanh penned these words: "We often delay fully living our lives until the future—some vague, far-off time," How to Relax . “It’s as if now is not the moment to be alive. We may never be alive at all in our entire life. The only moment to be alive is in the present moment.”