It was date night and my husband and I want to see The High Kings. The concert was at a smallish venue with first come first serve seating, and we had a seat in the back off to the right side. As we were along an aisle, we had a good view of the stage, and I noticed my view was periodically blocked by multiple cell phones as concert goers recorded videos of this song or that song. And all I could think is why? Why take yourself out of the moment to record a video of crappy quality? Do people really watch these videos over and over? Are they really memories to be treasured or just videos to post on social media for likes?

Thirteen years ago, before I started my consciousness journey, my husband and I went to watch one of the last space shuttle launches at Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center. At the time, I enjoyed taking photographs with my Canon SLR and planned on taking lots of photographs of the launch. As the space shuttle took off, I snapped away worrying I would miss getting something on film. Jockeying for position with those around me. Wishing I had a better telephoto lens. And hoping I was getting everything. About halfway through the launch, I had this revelation that I was missing something. I was missing the majesty of the shuttle taking off. I was missing the wonder of watching astronauts launch into space. I was missing the fascination of discovery and the beauty of human engineering. I was missing the connection to my childhood and all the desire I had to be an astronaut. I was missing the experience by worrying photographs.

So I stopped taking photos and just watched. And I remember how it felt. The wonder, the nostalgia, the wish to be on the space shuttle rocketing away from Earth. I can barely remember the take off of the shuttle, but I remember it disappearing into the upper atmosphere and off to orbit. I remember the feelings and the sites. The wishing, the hoping and the awe. I was in the moment, and it was wonderous. And those photos of the shuttle launch, I’ve hardly looked at them since. And they don’t convey any of what I felt while watching.

So as these concert goers block my view with their cell phones, I listen to the music, I tap my foot and I feel. I enjoy the moment. Too bad the videos won’t convey any of that and those so intent on taking the video missed much more than they gained.

By the way, the High Kings were excellent. We saw them the first time on a date night whim and the second time on purpose. If you like Irish music, give them a try.