I was at the park on Wednesday evening with Vivian.
It was a hot afternoon, so there were only about five families there.
One thing immediately stood out. Every single parent was on their phone.
One dad was pushing his kid on the swing while scrolling. Another barely looked up the whole time we were there. I kept hearing things like "Not yet," "Maybe later," "Give me a second," and a lot of "no."
We all feel that life gets busy. I know we're all guilty of it, and I've absolutely been that dad before.
For me personally, I struggle when work feels unfinished, when I've got something on my mind, when I'm struggling to be creative, when I convince myself that whatever is on my phone is somehow more important than what's right in front of me.
But for some reason, watching it from the outside really pissed me off.
Not because I think those parents are bad people, but likely because I saw a little bit of myself in them.
Have we just accepted distraction as normal?
When I started KORU, one of the biggest parts of our mission was helping people live a life of freedom, without compromise. To be healthy enough to say "yes" whenever life called.
To go hiking. To travel. To ski. To wrestle and kick your kids' ass on the basketball court for as long as possible. To play.
But I've realized over the last few years that physical freedom is only part of the equation, and there's another type of freedom that's even harder to find.
Attention. Intention. Presence.
You can have the healthiest body in the world, but if your mind is somewhere else, are you really there?
Our kids don't just remember what we did. They remember how we made them feel.
- Did Dad look at me when I spoke?
- Did he put his phone away?
- Did he seem interested in me?
- Or was I competing with a screen?
One thing I often talk about is this:
Energy flows where attention goes.
Whatever has your attention eventually shapes your life.
Are you choosing where your attention goes, or is something else choosing it for you?
I guess that's why a group like ours matters. Because we all need men around us who hold us accountable. "Mate... are you actually present?"
Not just at work. Not just at home. But in your own life. With your kids, your partner, your family and friends.
I'd love to hear your thoughts. When do you find yourself most distracted? And what helps you come back to the moment?
Have an awesome week, fellas. Oh yeah, and put your fucking phone away.