10 Life Experiences We Lost to Smartphones :(

 

Here are 10 life experiences that have vanished in the smartphone era:

1. Getting genuinely, hopelessly lost - The disorienting yet sometimes serendipitous experience of having absolutely no idea where you are, leading to unexpected discoveries or memorable adventures while trying to find your way back. Talk about learn-by-doing.
2. The anticipation of developed photos - Dropping off a roll of film and waiting days to see if your vacation photos turned out, including the surprise of forgotten moments and the disappointment of blurry shots you thought would be perfect. Hashtag no filter.
3. Being unreachable - The profound freedom of being somewhere without anyone able to contact you, where your time was truly your own and "I couldn't find a phone" was a valid excuse. Only way to do this now is to leave your phone behind when you go out.
4. Memorizing phone numbers - Knowing dozens of numbers by heart, from your best friend's house to the local pizza place, creating a mental rolodex that connected you to your world. I only remember 2 numbers by heart: my parents' landline and my wife's cell.
5. The art of channel surfing - Mindlessly flipping through TV channels and stumbling upon a random movie halfway through, then staying up too late to finish it despite having school or work the next day. Doomscrolling replaced this one and made brainrot worse.
6. Making plans and sticking to them - Deciding on a specific time and place to meet someone and having no choice but to show up, without the ability to text "running 5 mins late" or completely reorganize on the fly. If you bailed, it's better have a good reason.
7. Killing time in true boredom - Sitting in waiting rooms, standing in lines, or riding public transport with nothing but your thoughts, leading to daydreaming, people-watching, or striking up conversations with strangers. This also killed creativity before AI did.
8. Heated debates without instant fact-checking - Passionate arguments about trivia, movie quotes, or historical facts that could go on for hours without resolution, where confidence and persuasiveness mattered more than accuracy. Knowledge mattered at one point in human history.
9. The mystery of missing someone - Not knowing what someone was doing every moment, what they had for lunch, or where they traveled, making reunions rich with stories and catching up meaningful. Face-to-face interaction tops digital every single time.
10. Writing directions down - Carefully transcribing turn-by-turn directions over the phone or drawing crude maps on napkins, then trying to decipher your own handwriting while driving and hoping you didn't miss that crucial left turn at the oak tree. I remember reading maps out loud to my dad from the passenger seat at 10 years old. 

The Art of Heart

I must admit, I'm only writing this blog post to ensure that my personal goal of posting at least 1 blog per year on Blogspot remains true and alive. This special lil homepage has been going strong since 2007. 

(It's true -- check the archives in the sidebar!)  

>>>>>>>

Of course, it's also seen many face lifts and refurbishings. Much like that of my friend's pseudonym blog. I guess that's just what writers go through as they evolve with the internet. 

Personally, I'm glad my myspace, geocities, and livejournal pages no longer exist. That's a rarity when choosing content platforms these days. Often you don't even need internet archive to travel back in time.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is...

Thank you, dear reader, for sticking around to witness my rambles of human condition. I'm grateful for and appreciate you, and I wish you the best! 

Caffeinated Anxiety (a poem)

In the heart of night, under neon light's glare,

A soul stirs awake with a jittery stare.

A cup in hand, brimming with dark liquid fire,

Brewed not from warmth, but a desperate desire.

This potion, so bitter, yet sweet to the taste,

Promises vigor, with no moment to waste.

Yet beneath the surface, a storm starts to brew,

A tempest of thoughts, not a single one true.

With each sip taken, the world starts to spin,

Not faster, but slower, a paradox within.

The heart beats a rhythm, too quick to keep pace,

A race with no finish, an endless chase.

The clock ticks on, mocking with each passing hour,

As the mind builds its towers, then watches them tower.

Ideas once brilliant, now shadows of doubt,

In a caffeinated anxiety, trapped, looking out.

Yet amidst the chaos, a whisper so slight,

Speaks of calm waters, beyond the tumultuous night.

A reminder that storms, no matter how fierce,

Will eventually calm, and the sun will pierce.

So drink if you must, but remember the cost,

For not all who wander in darkness are lost.

And though caffeine promises to quicken the stride,

True peace lies within, not on a ride.

Let this be a lesson, to all who partake,

In the dance of anxiety, with so much at stake.

That balance is key, in both mind and cup,

To sip life fully, yet know when to stop.

Top 10 Reasons to Keep a Blog Running on Blogger

1. It's So Easy a Caveman Could Do It: Blogger is about as user-friendly as it gets. If you can write an email, you can run a Blogger blog. Heck, if you can't write an email, just bang the keyboard with your fists – Blogger will probably still make it look decent. Just like those old Geico commercials.
2. Free as in Free Puppy: Who doesn't love free stuff? Blogger is the free puppy of the blogging world. Sure, it might pee on the carpet and chew your shoes (metaphorically speaking), but hey, it's free!
3. Google's Watching: With Blogger, you're under the watchful eye of our benevolent overlords at Google. Feel the warmth of their surveillance as you seamlessly integrate with all their other tools. Google Analytics to count your two visitors, AdSense to make pennies on the dollar, and Drive to store all those draft posts you'll never publish.
4. Customization Galore: Blogger offers customization options galore, so you can spend hours tweaking your blog's design instead of writing. Who cares if your content is mediocre when your blog has such a pretty font?
5. SEO Magic: By the sheer virtue of being on Blogger, your blog is kissed by the Google fairy for SEO. It doesn't matter if all you write about is your cat's daily adventures; you're on Google's turf now, baby. No one can find it when they Google you, but they'll DuckDuckGo you!
6. Unbreakable (Kind Of): Thanks to Google's cloud, your Blogger blog is as stable as your internet connection on a stormy day. And with Google's top-notch security, the only one hacking your blog will be you when you forget your password.
7. Make It Rain Pennies: With AdSense integration, you too can join the elite ranks of bloggers making enough money to buy 1 coffee every 2 years. If you're lucky.
8. Mobile-Friendly, Like It or Not: Blogger's templates are so mobile-friendly, your blog will look fabulous on the three-inch screen of your grandma's flip phone.
9. Social Media Integration: Link your Blogger blog to your social media to make sure all your friends and family can easily ignore your posts in two places instead of just one.
10. A Community of Ghost Towns: Join Blogger's vibrant community of abandoned blogs from 2007. It's like a digital graveyard of dreams and half-baked ideas. Who knows, maybe you'll find someone else's forgotten blog to read when you're avoiding writing your own posts.

In the end, keeping a blog running on Blogger is like holding onto a piece of internet history – a simpler time when all you needed to be a "blogger" was an opinion and a pulse. Dive into the Blogger experience, where the possibilities are endless, and the realities are, well, amusingly limited. No one's going to read it anyway! 

PEPPER: Reigning Supreme as the Greatest Live Band of this Generation

or Unveiling the Live-Band Paragon

Pepper in Asbury Park, NJ (June 25, 2023)

In the expansive realm of musical artistry, where talent thrives and competition soars, emerges a triumphant force that eclipses its peers... 

Enter Pepper, the Hawaiian reggae, punk-rock trio that reigns supreme as the epitome of live performance excellence in this generation of rock & roll. With an unwavering surge of contagious energy, electrifying prowess, and an unmatched ability to forge an intimate connection with their audience, Pepper stands tall as the indisputable pinnacle of the live music experience.

Here is why:

1) Indomitable Stage Presence:

Within the crucible of live performances, Pepper ignites a celestial inferno of vitality and magnetism. From the moment they take the stage, an ethereal charge envelops the crowd, transmuting their presence into an unparalleled spectacle. Emboldened by the tempestuous power of their punk anthems or the sun-kissed cadence of their reggae-infused harmonies, Pepper unapologetically delivers a sensory explosion that leaves spectators yearning for more.

2) Authenticity and Harmonic Versatility:

The ingenious tapestry of genres interwoven by Pepper reflects an artistic alchemy of authenticity and musical virtuosity. Their multifaceted soundscape seamlessly fuses the jagged contours of punk, the rhythmic expanse of reggae, the soulful incantations of rock, and the spirited cadence of ska. This harmonious versatility grants them the power to engage audiences hailing from diverse sonic provinces, ensuring an unforgettable live experience that resonates with aficionados across the melodic spectrum.

3) A Soulful Tether to the Audience:

The mark of an extraordinary live band is its innate capacity to forge a soulful bond with its audience. Pepper not only masters this art form but elevates it to celestial heights. Their down-to-earth personas and unpretentious demeanor engender an intimate and all-embracing ambiance, transforming each performance into an impassioned communion among kindred spirits. This ethereal connection fosters an insatiable thirst for encore experiences, forging an unbreakable bond between the band and their devoted following.

4) The Inexhaustible Wellspring of Energy:

Pepper's live exhibitions transcend mere musical performances, captivating audiences with an unyielding surge of relentless ardor. Whether commanding grand stages at colossal festivals or enchanting intimate venues, the trio infuses every fiber of their being into each melodic note, delivering an electric spectacle that transcends expectations. Their steadfast commitment to unbridled passion has earned them an unblemished reputation for unwavering consistency, guaranteeing fans an exhilarating escapade with every performance.

5) A Legacy of Resonance:

Beyond the boundaries of their awe-inspiring live showcases, Pepper's music has embedded an indelible imprint upon countless lives. Their lyrical masterpieces resonate on a profoundly personal level, fearlessly exploring the universal tapestry of love, loss, and self-discovery. These sonic chronicles have bestowed upon Pepper the mantle of voice for their generation, providing solace, inspiration, and a resolute sense of belonging to those who find solace within their melodies. This profound influence has cemented Pepper's position as a cultural phenomenon, securing their place in the annals of musical history for generations to come.

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To conclude, in an era abounding with remarkable live bands, Pepper ascends effortlessly above their peers, eclipsing the competition with an unrivaled stage presence, authenticity, and profound rapport with their audience. Their infectious energy, melodic dexterity, and unwavering dedication to delivering ethereal performances solidify their unrivaled status as the paramount live band of this generation. Pepper's legacy extends far beyond the confines of their genre, etching their mark on the history of live music and rock & roll.

Is Lil' Wayne in with the Mafia?

Today I'm going to explore a line from Lil' Wayne's 2011 hit "6 Foot 7 Foot"

"Real G's move in silence like lasagna" has been widely discussed in popular culture since it's drip over a decade ago. At first glance, the quote appears to be a playful wordplay on the pronunciation of "lasagna," likening the silent movements of gangsters to the silent "g" in the word. However, a closer examination reveals a somewhat more nuanced analysis.

The line suggests that true gangsters need not boast or flaunt their power, but rather operate discreetly and with intelligence. It speaks to the idea of being able to maintain control and influence without drawing attention to oneself. This is a stark contrast to the stereotype that gangsters are loud and ostentatious.

But like Weezy would want... let's take that metaphor one step further.

The symbolism of lasagna can also be interpreted as a reference to the layers of complexity that exist within the world of organized crime. Just as lasagna is made up of multiple layers, each with its own distinct flavor, so too is the criminal underworld made up of various levels of power and hierarchy. So does the quote then imply that those who are truly "gangster" are able to navigate these layers with finesse and subtlety?

Only Tunechi knows.

Overall, Lil Wayne's rhyme offers a fresh perspective on what it means to be a true "G" in the context of hip hop and even pop culture. It emphasizes the importance of intelligence, strategy, and discretion, rather than simply relying on brute strength and aggression. 

Even now, in 2023, we can utilize such grace as we traverse society's shifting digital landscape.

Join Me on Medium!

Photo by Andrew Neel on Unsplash

Blogging has taken a backseat for me during these last 3 years. I've been moreso focused on trying to cultivate a better attitude towards our various communities and learning how to improve myself so that I may better serve others. If the pandemic has taught me anything, it's that humanity is capable of great things only when we are able to unite as one. There are forces that work against us in that regard, though I won't dive into that rabbit hole here.

Consider joining me along the journey:

• https://medium.com/@glenbinger/membership  
• https://medium.com/@glenbinger
• https://medium.com/betterism

None of us are really the way our internet presence perceives us to be. Being kind, loving, grateful, and open to potential is no longer an option in this world. One must possess these qualities or perish with the collapse of "old earth" systems we are currently witnessing. 

Spread love is the motto. <3

Coffee & Words

Hello friends! What are you doing Sunday, May 22nd? Wanna come meet up in Asbury Park for some coffee and words? 

Many thanks to Cord Moreski, I'll be doing my first live performance since pre-covid at the Asbury Park Roastery. Alongside will be New Jersey legends Tohm Bakelas of Between Shadows Press, Steve Zmijewski of Two Key Customs, and Mauren Setterstrom of It's Worth A Read.

Shenanigans start at 5pm with an open-mic to follow. See ya there! 

"By the Sea, at Night" (a poem, 2018)

Photo by Robert Wiedemann on Unsplash

"By the Sea, at Night"

by Glen Binger

summer breeze

slips through the window.

salty air

lines our lungs.

muffled laughter

sprouts from our bellies.

Recommended Wellness Products (and DISCOUNTS!)

First: I am not a doctor nor do I claim to offer any medical advice towards one's health. 

The following products & brands are simply a list of items that have helped me along my own wellness journey. They've assisted me in managing and adapting both my personal and professional lives. I endorse them because I believe in them and their due diligence to organic and optimal overall wellness. I encourage you to browse each company's catalog to find a product that might benefit you in some way, shape, or form. I believe in the foundation these small companies are built upon. They do not put their products/profits over the lives/health of their customers. Each of these brands embody organic mindsets, sustainable solutions, and educational resources that I believe in and wish to support as much as I can (which is why I am taking a moment to share them with you, my friends & family here). 

If you find something you'd like to try, use the link and/or promocode attached for its correlating discount. This supports the BETTERISM community and helps to keep it operating smoothly.

If you have any questions, please reach out to me or to the company itself. I'm happy to help however I can. Enjoy & stay healthy, my friends!If you have any questions, please reach out to me or to the company itself. I'm happy to help however I can. Enjoy & stay healthy, my friends!

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Mitolife: 

Mitolife offers everything from uncensored educational content to whole-food wellness products. Personally, I love their shilajit product the best. It's the most potent and purest I've found on the market. I take it daily with my afternoon tea. I also use their vitamin E (PUFA protect) and their vitamin K (Purely K) supplements to help detox my body from years of unconscious American eating habits. Their podcast has been extraordinarily helpful in my unlearning of westernized "treat the symptom instead of the cause" mentality. Use promocode "BETTERISM" at checkout and/or click this link for a 15% discount off your entire order.

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Choq:

Choq's YouTube channel is beneficial even if one doesn't use their supplements. It's where I first learned about shilajit. I'm a big fan of their men's Daily and their Ashwagandha supplements. They also offer a purified shilajit capsule that I use if I'm on-the-go. These have helped me better retain energy and effectively fight off the stress of day-to-day life as a working class millennial. Plus, they help me focus and hone-down my writing habits. Click here and then use promocode "BETTERISM" at checkout for 10% off your entire order.

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LifeBlud:

LifeBlud is the perfect match for my 100-mph lifestyle. With work life and personal life being so chaotic nowadays, I don't have the time needed to dedicate to certain wellness routines. Magnesium consumption is one of those. The most effective form of magnesium is magnesium bicarbonate, but that requires a chunk of time to produce each week (the kind of time I personally do not have). LifeBlud's founder, Adam, has some great educational content on his Instagram channel and their blog about this. Their magnesium supplement is the only capsule form that encases the same benefits as its bicarbonate form. I take it daily, along with their "Antidote" Vitamin E every evening. Use promocode "BETTERISM" at checkout and/or click here for a 10% discount on your entire order.

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HealthyHome:

HealthyHome is my favorite lifestyle go-to. I use a variety of their products, including the organic soaps and shampoos, but their flicker-free lighting is by far the most family-oriented on the market. Their entire lighting product line is specifically designed to benefit our natural circadian rhythms while also maintaining energy costs effectively. I’ve replaced 95% of my home’s lighting with their 3-color-temp bulbs and keep their nightlights in the nursery for those late-night diaper changes. Use promocode “BETTERISM” at checkout and/or click here for a 10% discount on your entire order.

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Four Sigmatic:

Their affinity for and knowledge of fungi as an ancestral, nutritional regimen is beyond that of all their competitors. I've learned so much about the various species of mushrooms and how they each benefit us. Four Sigmatic offers a subscription service where you can adjust monthly orders, set delivery dates according to your needs, and offer a 20% discount if you subscribe instead of making one-time purchases. Personally, I use their lion's mane & chaga mushroom coffee mix and their "defend" mushroom blend in my morning coffee everyday. I also use their organic protein powder for my post-workout shakes. These also help my body recover so I can focus on my writing habits. Use promocode "BETTERISM" at checkout and/or click this link for an additional 10% discount off your entire order.  

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MagicalButter:

While this infuser is certainly marketed towards the cannabis industry, it is a high-quality and easy-to-use infusion device that can be utilized for much more than "magical" butter. I've used mine to infuse butters, ghee, oils, gummies, and even chocolate extracts with all kinds of herbs and spices; everything from green tea butter to oregano oil for immune system support. I've even started to dabble with mixing turmeric and shilajit into my recipes! There is no other machine on the market like it. Press 2 buttons and let it sit until the cycle is complete. It even has a self-clean function that takes less than 5 minutes! Use this link to get 10% off your order and infuse some herbal wellness into your life.

Yin and Yang (a poem)

these shells lead knowhere,

this vitamin sea

looped like coping circles.

Hardcover HEAD GAMES

brought to you by CloudWallet™

I was hesitant at first, but do not currently regret going through Amazon KDP to produce the hardcover edition of Head Games: The Novel. They came out beautiful. 

To celebrate, I'm gifting this NFT collectible OmniCoin™ for free to anyone with proof of purchase! Just shoot me an email or DM.

Press start to continue...

Sea Change // Be Change

Seas The Way is the only way  >>>>>>

Collaboration & Creativity: How to Find Your Door

These last few years have been a roller coaster, to say the least. 

But that doesn't mean they were a waste. Personally, I met some really amazing and talented people. In particular, I became friends with the founding editors of Loud Coffee Press. 

Long before they accepted my manuscript for Welcome To Plexus, we had linked up to collaborate and pick each other's brains on everything from writing to launching a small press art shop to operating with a DIY business model. I have learned very much from them over these past few years.

To my surprise, they recently dropped a humbling article about how our connection fueled their creativity. ("Finding Your Doors: Collaboration and Creativity") I must admit, when I saw my own name mentioned in their newsletter, I teared up. I am so grateful to have met and made friends with Annie and Fred. They are incredible people.

Do yourself a favor and go check them out. Their work is not only inspiring, but it's incredibly helpful for anyone considering themselves a creative. And, if you're feeling a little cyberpunk-vaporwave-thriller, check out my chapbook Welcome To Plexus. It links up and connects to the novel I just dropped: Head Games.

All in all, much love and stay learning. <3

Fiction vs. Nonfiction: the WHY, the WHAT, the HOW

Photo by 🇸🇮 Janko Ferlič on Unsplash

Grab a book! Here's how to help your brain choose between fiction or non-fiction.

This blog is brought to you by...

 

On Gratitude

Photo by Gabrielle Henderson on Unsplash

 

Gratitude is a strange and fleeting feeling. It hit me good today; enough to sit me down and scribble out this memoirish, rambly blog post that'll never quite do the emotion true justice.

That alone tells me that there’s value in taking some time to reflect upon it. To journal in a public manner. To open my ribs and see what's holding me together.

As I write, New Found Glory’s (Spotify) radio station is on my speaker and I’m 2 beers into a greater state of confidence. So why not share my wealth? I feel ecstatic and entirely exhausted. Fueled, yet fatigued at the same time. And also wildly grateful for the breaths between each word.

I don’t know where I’d be or what I'd be doing right now if I hadn’t experienced this first-hand today.

12 hours ago I was groggily waking up over coffee when I got a text from my friends, Steve & Lisa, who needed some help packing up their Uhaul. They’re moving to Princeton next weekend.

Begrudgingly, I skipped over my normal Saturday morning To-Be-Read pile and hustled over to help out. We moved boxes, tables, and bed frames. Mirrors, couches, and lawn decor. Carry stuff in, play some Tetris, repeat. Helping someone move is a pain in the ass, but it is a rewarding feeling once you learn to look back on it.

They ordered pizza for lunch and next thing I knew I was home again. It was suddenly nearing the dinnertime sunset of a Jersey shore town in May.

I felt wrecked. Exhausted. Displaced and disheveled from an unexpected call-to-action. So I made some afternoon coffee while the birds sang the sun to sleep. The plans to accomplish my own chores were sabotaged and I felt no guilt in saving them for tomorrow. “But you can read now!” I told myself, while the sun crept along the treelines of the western horizon.

I picked up a few zines that’ve been staring at me from the pile:

• Al Burian’s 500,000 Airports
• Craig Atkinson’s Coffee & People (#5)
• Steve Zmijewski's Cored: Commuting Love, Sored
• Melissa Taylor’s A Skeleton Of What Used To Be

to name a few. I zipped through them with a focus only caffeine has ever known. They centered me again. These little blips of human condition. 

Coffee was finished and eventually turned into beer. I hopped from the zines to a couple of chapters in Dune (which, by the way, I’m trying to reread before the new movie comes out). Then I sat up and it was dark out. Just like that. 

The sunset painted the sky purple and black above the ocean and I felt… grateful. 

At least, this was the moment I first noticed my awareness of it. I don’t know why I hadn’t recognized it before then. But I knew it was the one thing holding me together.

So I decided to write about it, as I always do. It scratched the part of my brain that words aloud are unable to properly express. It is my only human to the heart of my presence, one could say. Alive in a moment of nothing time. 

I've come to realize that little moments like these are the truth. The purest essence of conscious life and joy and love entwined together into whatever it means to experience being human. They are the state of presence we all strive for, whether or not even realizing it. Gratitude is the piece of us that holds us together when we feel like we’re falling apart. And the funny part about that, is that we only really experience it when we’ve learned discipline enough to place focus upon it. To look back at our exhaustion and our unpreparedness and say, "Thanks for the reminder."

Sometimes that's all we need.

The Purpose of Education

"There is one reason to learn, there is but one purpose to education, and it is not to memorize the state capitals alphabetically. It’s to become a capable person of good character. That’s what we have to be teaching them. That’s what we have to monitor. That’s what we have to model."

Photo by NeONBRAND on Unsplash

So this excerpt came across my inbox today from an excellent newsletter called Daily Dad. And while the above quote is specifically talking about raising children, I believe it's pertinence extends well beyond the parent/child relationship. 

Education's purpose, according to John Dewey, is not the transfer of knowledge but the sharing of social experience so that children become integrated into the democratic community. 

Might we also consider John Taylor Gatto's claim that modern schools (American schools, at least) are not ideal places for children to learn, develop, and flourish. He argues, rather, that schools are designed to suppress children; to dehumanize them and rob them of all imagination and creativity. 

What then is the function of education?

Well, this light shows us the bigger picture here: the parents, the family, and the community are absolutely essential to a child's development. All of us. We are all responsible for the young human being's education. School is the supplement. 

People learn from authentic experience. Period. And that culminates from well beyond the parent/child relationship. Especially this day & age of instantaneous knowledge and constant connection. If we want to make a better world, it starts with realizing that said change starts from the bottom up.

Life Lessons Learned from Podcasting

https://anchor.fm/betterism

Approaching a full year of podcasting, I wanted to take a quick second to reflect on a few of the valuable life lessons that I've obtained from the eclectic guests to appear on the show.

1. Authenticity is easily recognized; even if the observer cannot express it.
2. Growth is inevitable; so you want to build a habit of feeding it good things.
3. Appreciate the little things in life; skipping over these can diminish one's happiness.

I have found these themes to be recurring between multiple guests and multiple industries in which they operate. In trying to apply them in my own life, I've also noticed that they take habitual intent to develop. It's nearly impossible to improve these things without dedicated focus.

Anyway, my hope is that you find some time to think about and mull these things over. If something so small as adjusting your perspective to consistent growth can help, why not give it a try?

Much love, friends! <3

The New Year

Photo by Roan Lavery on Unsplash

"The New Year"

a new year spreads its wings

with warm air and overcast skies.

the kind of skies that bring rain

or snow dependent on temperature.

a day to embrace; the first of 2021;

where we celebrate with

hair of the dog

and leftover cheese platters.

a day where we browse social media

and contemplate our existence.

people around the world are shuffling,

or napping on their couch.

forgetting the whirlwinds of 2020

as if quantitative measurement of time

will make a change for them.

as if these new wings

will teach themselves to fly.