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Opinion

Break from distraction and enrich yourself

Sousan Hammad
Opinion Columnist

We live in a modern society with endless distractions; its whirl of pleasures leads to the lack of a focused will when it comes to the choices individuals make. Whether it is avoiding distractions to instead search for relative independence from the mainstream or avoiding distractions to put efforts into attaining knowledge, one should know when to release oneself.

Though distractions can become indistinguishable in a sense, people must first realize whether the distraction is deterring them from accomplishing more significant tasks, such as reading, writing and studying, by searching for relative independence.

In his essay "Politics and the English Language," George Orwell said, "Clichés, tired metaphors and lazy writing are instances of the decay of language." 

This statement accounts for many ignorant comments published today. If language is important to a writer, perhaps reading more books would help instead of succumbing to the distraction of digitized elements like MySpace and iPods, which have become a necessity to many. 

People should not be dependent on the inorganic realm but instead try living with struggle -- and if it is a struggle to keep those white pieces of metal string at home (found in the ears of many wanderers on campus), then perhaps that's a start to learning how to live distraction-free. 

With just enough determination, we can break free from being prisoners of our own sensations and desires. By not doing so we deceive ourselves and believe that the acts we commit are of importance. So as the semester dwindles to an end, we should be steadfastly working rather than procrastinating -- a habitual trait of many, including myself.

Perhaps in trying to live without the seemingly endless addictions modern society faces, one could start by eschewing mobile phones. Just turn it off for one day and journey into the feeling of detachment; nobody can reach you and you can reach nobody. 

It's a wonderful feeling indeed -- we do not need to hear humdrum conversations and stentorian voices as we walk along the sidewalks of the University.

But if one gives in to distractions, then one should at least benefit. Go outside and get distracted by a sprawling oak tree or the pungent smell of a rosemary bush and collect some thoughts and reflect on them -- and maybe even take a dictionary to learn a new word.

Hammad, a communication junior, 
can be reached via dccampus@mail.uh.edu