growing up before digital heroin
a Gen Xer's nostalgic reminiscence
i remember
i remember — when being — alone — in a room
meant being — alone — in a room
i remember — when drugs — were the addictions
we were warned — to beware of
i remember — the days — before smart phones
when little boys — played outside — on their own
and knew how — to make eye contact
i remember — when little girls — chased boys — around the block
without worrying — about likes — or follower counts
algorithmic dysfunction
i remember — how it was — before selfies
before unlimited — digital — connections
before brains — were rewired — in isolation
for anxiety — and depression
i remember — a time
before short-term — dopamine-driven — feedback loops
did you read that one? 👆🏼
before digital — heroin — began destroying
how society — works
i remember — when friendship — was in person
when brothers — sat with sisters — around tables
and shared real — conversations
if you have friends — who might enjoy — open to change — in their box
please forward — this post — or click below
i remember — how it felt — to be connected
i remember — when drugs — were delivered — in bottles
not through Wi-Fi
when the search — for meaning — involved books
not anti-social — media
feeling connected
i remember — when i thought — the opposite — of addiction
was sobriety
the opposite — of addiction — isn’t sobriety
it’s connection
deep — meaningful — patient — human
connection
i remember — the taste — of water — before the well
was poisoned — by digital — heroin
i remember
do you remember?
thank you for supporting open to change
🙏🏼
This post is amazing. The juxtaposition of the brilliant colors and the darkness of human despair in your artwork tells the whole story - words aren’t even needed! Thanks, Darren!
As a Gen Z-er I’m always struck with envy hearing about older generations reminiscing on this time I didn’t get to live. There is no way to gauge what’s romanticized or false memory or the truth but not the whole truth... To remedy this I for one try my best to refrain from all the digital heroin I can, and wish it for others, all while knowing this stage of collective, federalized addiction will, ideally, culminate in a sort of divine sobriety. Very triggered and also soothed by this. Lovely work!