Instead of saving moments, we should try savouring them

I was scrolling down my newsfeed on social media the other day, when I saw a picture of a football crowd. The photo was not well-timed, and neither did it have any

I was scrolling down my newsfeed on social media the other day, when I saw a picture of a football crowd. The photo was not well-timed, and neither did it have any special effects — an ordinary photo in essence. However, what caught my eye was that the entire crowd, barring a few people, were either recording or taking photographs of the match. This struck me, and I kept thinking about it later. Why has capturing moments on camera become such a necessity? Except for professionals, why do we have to click photos of every single thing?

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People give excuses, like: “Photos help us create memories”. But then I wonder, what kind of memory is this which hasn’t been “lived” but just “clicked”. To get in the moment and live is what creates a memory.

Instead of saving moments, we should try savouring them. Instead of waiting for a perfect shot, just leave the camera and revel in the moment. Then you’ll have the perfect memory; to be cherished in the coming years.

I’m not saying that photography isn’t good. But to get so involved with clicking photos and forgetting the world is a different matter. What counts, apart from megapixels and lenses, is the many things that make a picturesque moment.

After your seventies these photos won’t matter much if you don’t have memories beyond the clicks. Memories are not created with a camera; they are in etched in your heart.

So the next time you’re out on a trip, remember that “clicked” memories are good, but it’s the moments that you live, breathe and revel in that capture them in their entirety.

(Inner Voice comprises contributions from our readers. The views expressed are personal.)