FOMO or JOMO?

You’ll never wish you would have texted someone more. Or sent more emails. Or scrolled Facebook for 6 more hours a day. Why do we spend so much time doing these things?

You will wish you’d spent more time with your mom. Or your best friend. Or your son. Or daughter. Or dogs. Or husband or wife. Or your grandma and grandpa. Perhaps you’ll wish you’d read more books or traveled to more countries, or spent more time on the beach, holding the hand of the one you love the most in this life.

What we are experiencing now is unprecedented and very likely a once in a lifetime occurrence. A few short months ago, we were all glued to the path of being busy, keeping busy and appearing to be busy. When mid-March hit, most of us were told to stay home, work from home and don’t go out unless absolutely necessary. Plans were cancelled. Sports were cancelled. Office life was cancelled. Restaurants were cancelled. Patio brunch was cancelled. Sunday Funday was cancelled. Flights were cancelled. Traveling in general was cancelled. Life as we knew it, is behind us. We’re in a strange in between type of scenario, where we’re not to the “new normal” yet, but life is certainly not going backwards to what it was.

We were up to our eyeballs in polluting the planet, in every way we could manage to do so. What we were doing, was not sustainable, and all other factors aside, the Earth is getting to heal herself. We are getting to rest and relax and heal ourselves. We went from FOMO to JOMO, almost overnight.

FOMO = Fear of Missing Out

JOMO = Joy of Missing Out

FOMO used to be my regular theme and motivating factor in life. I was always wanting to socialize, to be where the people were, doing what the people were doing. Reflection after meeting the woman that became my wife last year, showed me that my driving factor was to be in as many situations as possible, just in case she was there and we would cross paths, like some magical movie moment.

JOMO has been my modus operandi since we met, as I no longer have a need to be so out in the world. I found what I was looking for, and thus, am very content in my life as it has developed. I have a joy of missing out on whatever is happening in the world, for the large majority of circumstances, because I’m spending my time with my person, our dogs and kiddo. There’s got to be a very good reason for us to leave our home alone, and that’s a really special feeling and place to be in life.

I’m fully aware that not everyone is in the same happy place in life, and that not everyone has the great blessing to be in such a happy place, in a healthy relationship and loving home. For those people, my best and most loving thoughts and intentions go to their energies, in hopes of everyone experiencing love, happiness, joy and good health in this life. To help in those areas is why I’m here, doing this, writing these words, sharing these ideas, in hopes they resonate with someone for a glimpse of hope and motivation.

If you’re experiencing FOMO, what does JOMO look like for you? What does your dream life look like, knowing what you know now?