Brief Thoughts On Living and Thinking Out of the Box- By GiiGii Peels (Guest Blogger)

​There's a keyword here in the title, it's “Thinking.” Lately it seems that people lack the ability to critically think about certain issues; rather than think, we rationalize. We curb the inclination to investigate or research; ask an extra question. Instead we compare the effects of the issue such as “did it affect my home, my family? Did it affect my money, my health?” Using devices sometimes causes a person to tune out the whole world.  I myself at one time or another have been lost in the timelines of social media, and binge watching television shows. Honestly, the media would have me believe that the sky is falling! Yet its not falling by me, so why should I care? The apathy is real. I find myself wanting to break free! I become baffled at the inner debate to deactivate accounts or disable apps. Do I really get nervous when I think of volunteering, joining a club, or going outside to view who my neighbors are? In response to that inner debate, I rationalize that everything's ok, and say to myself “don’t be so negative.” I 've come to the conclusion, that fear of living outside the box drives our now inability to disable apps and electronics. My subconscious raises many questions- Is it negative to question the motive of watching T.V. for 5 or 6 hours, Is it negative to get absolutely angry to see yet another video on my timeline of some cop engaging in what seems to be a crime regardless if it is a legal one or moral one, am I completely desensitized- I smack my lips and continue to swipe my thumb against the screen of the little box in my hand refusing to think critically for fear I may put down the little box and return to living outside of it in a world different that when I went in to the box.