A short film and poem

By: Nalani Depina

Look back into the deepest part of your brain
Try to remember
What were you doing 10 to 15 years ago?

Before social distancing or technology
Were you out playing with friends?
Maybe at home with your family?

Do you remember the happiness of those peaceful days without constant stimulation?

Everything changed after 2010
Computers became accessible to everyone
Toch screens were developed
Iphones and Ipads became a curious new light to take up our time

Then people started to change
A curiosity turned into an addiction
And people began to move closer and closer to screens
And further away from each other.

Because the screens seemed so bright and fun
Filled with distractions and games
And easy satisfaction that overloaded your brain with dopamine.

But the Brighter a screen shines
The more it dims your eyes
And the world around you grows darker with each passing day.

As you grow older, you find new games to play
New distractions to keep your screen bright
If you get bored with one, there’s always something new to discover.

Until the day when games get boring
And the social media era began
Constantly looking at perfect pictures, edited to be without flaws,
That end up making you feel imperfect.

Constant scrolling to numb your brain from the dark feelings that have built up inside you

Until the day you can no longer recognize yourself,

Although the world may seem dark and uninviting
Dimmed by years of screens and beauty.

You only need one spark of hope to light a fire within yourself.

Take one small step at a time,
Discover what you love and embrace the world around you

Maybe plants could be your spark
Watching beauty grow at your fingertips day by day

Maybe embroidery could be your light
Creating pictures with nothing but needles and thread

Maybe you could try painting to color your world
With a neverending spectrum of ideas to create

Maybe you could try making crafts to pass the time
Making jewelry and creations to keep you going

Maybe you could try reading to open your eyes to new worlds
Even writing poetry or stories that allow you to share who you are

The possibilities are endless

All you have to do is take the steps to find yourself

Because there isn’t a single thing on this planet more important than:
Your inner peace
Your happiness
Your dreams
You! period.