A moment of peace

It's all about technology now. Sometimes I sit and wonder how people existed in the past.
When there was nothing like technology, when the only thing that revolved around them was nature.

I don't think I would have been able to survive. My phone and I are best friends. For instance, I would rather search for green leaves on my phone to stare at the pictures than go outside and look at actual green leaves outside my house.

Maybe I should be ashamed to admit that I'm so dependent on my phone but that's the reason we are here…
To be honest about our lives.

Sometimes, just like the saying goes, too much of everything is not good. Technology became to much.
The endless texts, the notifications, some good and some bad.

I didn't realize that I just needed to take a step back and breath, this led me to my most memorable experience with nature
And so the tale begins…..

pexels-photo-1770809.jpeg
Source
I woke up that day to a lot of messages on Whatsapp. The normal thing was to sit glued to my phone which was the original plan.
During this time, exams were fast approaching and preparing early would do me a lot of good.

Instead, I was holding my phone typing away. My beddie came out and announced that she was thinking of going to see her grandma in the village. She asked if I wanted to come with her.

My interest was piqued but then she told me something that completely destroyed it.
"There is no network in the village"
How would I survive without my phone?

She managed to convince me with the words, "My grandma likes to feed people until they cannot move from their seats".
And so I found myself going to her village with her.
We got there, everything was so green.

I thought I would at least get a bar but there was nothing. There was absolutely nothing to do with my phone. I was a texter. I don't play games, I find it hard to read on my phone and my playlist which was on shuffle decided to torment me with sad songs.

My beddie said I should stop tormenting myself, she was going to the stream and I could come with her if I wanted.
I was reluctant at first but eventually I caved.

It wasn't my first time going to a stream, so it wasn't thrilling or exciting.
For the first time for as long as I can remember, I dropped my phone at home.

We had to go down a slope. Like I said before, I've always been a child at heart so I made it into a competition.
"Last person to reach the stream will wash all the plates tomorrow."
So we started running. I lost but during those few seconds I laughed, there I was, having fun without my phone.

We got to the stream and everything was so clear.
Like the people in the village knew the queen which is me would visit the stream that day so they stayed away.

My beddie was the first person to enter. She fell, not dived into the water totally disrupting the peace.
Finally I went in. The first feel of the water against my feet was amazing.

Then I submerged my entire body. I couldn't swim back then, I still can't swim now but it felt surreal just simply being in the water.
I raised my face to the sky and let my body float.

I don't think I have left true peace again since then. I was one with the water, one with nature. Simply floating, letting the water carry me wherever it wanted to.
Source

"Beddie?", She called me.
"Yes?", I answered.
"I wish the world can always be as quiet as this."
I sighed, "Me too."

We lay there for hours just letting the water take us. It was a beautiful moment. Nothing existed.
There was no worry about the exams I had to write, no worry about the issues I had to deal with.
Everything was just perfect.

All good things must come to an end. We had to leave eventually. We got back to her grandma's place and after washing the stream water off ourselves, we did one of my favorite things.
We ate.

I went to check on my phone and I realized some messages had come in.
My beddie passed by me holding a wrapper. I asked her what she was doing. She said she wanted to just lie outside and stare at the stars.
As usual, she asked if I wanted to come.
I said no this time so she left.

I sat on the bed, about to start replying messages but then, when I looked at the messages again, I realized that wasn't what I wanted to do.

So I switched off the phone, went outside and joined her.
We stared at the stars talking about everything.
It was the perfect hour for a confession night.
It was just simply the perfect hour.

I'm not much of a texter anymore. I still use my phone a lot but just sitting and replying messages isn't so easy anymore.
Priorities have changed but sometimes I let myself simply stare at earth because if there is one thing no one can argue with, it is that….
Nature is beautiful



0
0
0.000
23 comments
avatar

Beautiful piece..

I normally get bored reading through some posts here..but the first few lines drew me in and you went for the slaughter with an end like that....

Washing plates in the village isn’t really a bad thing..have fun

0
0
0.000
avatar

Washing plates in the village isn’t really a bad thing..have fun

Correction... Washing plates anywhere is awful😂😂😂

Beautiful piece..

I normally get bored reading through some posts here..but the first few lines drew me in and you went for the slaughter with an end like that....

But I'm glad you liked it😊❤️

0
0
0.000
avatar

The tale adeptly conveys the metamorphic influence of the natural realm and how it is capable of shaping our existence.

A sense of tranquility emerges from the striking portrayals of the hamlet and brook. Kudos!!👍👍

0
0
0.000
avatar

I love the moments when friends just sit or lie down in the quiet and speak from the heart (confessions like you said) I’ve felt that before more than once and have always loved it.

Every tale away from your phone was a beautiful tale. After all, all we eventually have are the moments especially those dear to our hearts.

Thanks for sharing💕

0
0
0.000
avatar

After all, all we eventually have are the moments especially those dear to our hearts.

They are the ones we remember the most.

I love the moments when friends just sit or lie down in the quiet and speak from the heart (confessions like you said)

Those were the really good times. Now everyone is so caught up in trying to get through the days that there is hardly ever any time to just take a pause and reflect anymore.

0
0
0.000
avatar

Exactly. Well said. Grateful to have experienced it. I know for sure I will make it a norm in my family to have a day or evening set aside were we talk or gist keeping the phone aside.

0
0
0.000
avatar

Let me tell you, I was very much sensible when there was no phone and the environment was our everything; we go hunting other bush means and fruits, swimming and bathing in the ice rain... and these things were so sweet!
Oh! Those good old days.
Aunty, you're really a baby 🤧

0
0
0.000
avatar

Go back and hunt and then bath in the ice rain now if sickness will not knack you the next day 😂😂😂
Or you will come and tell me you are a strong man now, the rain doesn't affect you🌚

Aunty, you're really a baby 🤧

Shebi I've been telling you🥺

0
0
0.000
avatar

Yen yen yen 😏😏

Shebi I've been telling you🥺

Now, you're feeling yourself again

0
0
0.000
avatar

This is a lovely reflection on what is important, @dianelson. This realization does not come to everyone, so you should feel blessed. Being able to set aside technology and immerse in nature is good for health and longevity. They are doing studies that reveal this.

Like the people in the village knew the queen which is me would visit the stream that day so they stayed away.

That is a great line.

Thank you for sharing your creative nonfiction story in The Ink Well, and for reading and commenting on the work of other community members.

0
0
0.000
avatar

I feel you. I also have moments where I want to just relax and turn off all of my gadgets. You know, to escape all of the hassles of life, to enjoy a slow life.

0
0
0.000
avatar

Exactly.. Without all the chaos.
Just exist in peace alone in that particular moment ❤️

0
0
0.000
avatar

Awwnnn....@dianelson dearie. I !luv everything about this piece you wrote so much because it looks like something I could say. Although, you see that last person to the stream washes the plate, I would have ran like the devil was after me because Wo! Can't be me washing the numerous plates.🤧

But you're a wonderful soul for sharing this and I was caught from start to finish. Well-done.💞

0
0
0.000
avatar

Although, you see that last person to the stream washes the plate, I would have ran like the devil was after me because Wo! Can't be me washing the numerous plates.🤧

😂😂😂...I tried my best 🥺
The devil didn't chase me well enough 😂
But let me tell you, she ended up washing the plates. Her grandmother said, "Why will you be letting visitor wash plate" so I still won.

But you're a wonderful soul for sharing this and I was caught from start to finish. Well-done.💞

Thank you💞

0
0
0.000
avatar

Having something out of our life is sometimes very calming and healing like a day without a cell phone. Sometimes I wish everything just went quiet for ten minutes.

0
0
0.000
avatar

It's really hard. Everything in the world is constantly moving and so are we.
But then again, I don't think we would want to exist so much in the quiet.

0
0
0.000
avatar

Maybe ten minutes of absolute quiet would be a catastrophe. I guess I meant ten minutes of relative quietness.

0
0
0.000