“Is that a strange title or what” you’re probably frowning and wondering if I’ve lost my mind.. or my writing skills.. or perhaps both! It isn’t at all what you’re thinking.. just that I’ve used the “jargon” of today’s youth!
The advent of mobile phones heralded the revival of the almost forgotten art of “typing” (now referred to as texting)! Some credit must of course also go to Amitabh Bachchan who started every new round of Kaun Banega Crorepati with a round of something called “Fastest Finger First”! While getting accustomed to navigating a touchscreen we also exercised our fingers considerably..
While those of us who are admittedly “old school fuddy-duddies” still typed in the Queen’s English.. the youth found it extremely boring and tedious to do so and they came up with a whole new language.. the language/jargon of “shorts” or short forms such as a simple BRB for Be Right Back.. TTYL for Talk To You Later and YOLO which was weirdly You Only Live Once (obvious right?) after which it evolved to abbreviations that were not as obvious including the abovementioned and totally befuddling FOMO and JOMO!
Confession being good for the soul.. it must be said that I have never been a particularly avid fan of these abbreviations and have rarely.. if ever used them! However, at the ripe and nicely matured age of 60 when I look back at my journey these abbreviations sum up exactly what I was then to what I am now so beautifully and perfectly!
FOMO is to be interpreted as Fear Of Missing Out.. When I was a little girl I was one of those who always wanted (and needed) to be included.. who actually cried when I wasn’t invited to someone’s party and became a people pleaser very early so that I wouldn’t be left out! It was VERY important that I had the magnetic pencil box.. the fanciest cake on my birthday.. and the pretty dress from Beatrix Tailors – just like all the other girls in my class who “belonged”!
As I grew up it was a given that I would be a total conformist because under no circumstances did I want to be excluded! I wore what everyone else was wearing (even though I didn’t like it).. listened to the music that was considered “cool and happening” (even though I couldn’t always understand the lyrics”.. and really didn’t have a mind of my own.. or an opinion.. or a voice.. Sadly I was always the one who said “Me too please” all the time!
Fortunately my Dad was a really intelligent man and extremely “tuned in” to me and he saw what I was becoming.. didn’t like it and set about changing it at the soonest! He would make it a point to discuss books with me.. as my opinion.. ask me to think of creative solutions to simple problems.. and be generous with both praise as well as criticism..
He was solitary by nature and led by example so I got addicted to reading at a very early age and I made the joyous discovery that you could never be lonely with a book in your hands! My love for reading along with my love for making new friends and talking to people slowly obliterated and ultimately extinguished the default setting of FOMO..
Time went by.. I grew up.. got busy with education and career.. nursing both my parents (one at a time) and finally Covid struck! I went from being an incredibly social person to becoming compulsorily isolated! Daddy had passed away so I was stuck in the house with just my trusty helpers for company.. not the happiest situation for me..
Fortunately I was among the younger people in the building and volunteered to take charge and coordinate the purchases and deliveries of groceries provisions essentials treats and luxuries for my building and three more besides! It also gave me the opportunity to interact with people on a more or less regular basis.. which was almost oxygen for me!
The only visitors allowed in the building were doctors and that’s when my lifepath started changing.. my family doctor (who’s also one of my closest friends) used to drop in and we’d spend time discussing life.. love and everything in between.. He recommended a few simple books about personal growth and spiritualiy.. and I lapped it all up like a lost traveller in the desert at an oasis!
I was truly fortunate to learn so much from him and he was very generous with his insights.. and later on super blessed to meet someone exceptional who opened my eyes to perceive the world and people around me with eyes of compassion wisdom and discernment..
My thought process changed.. self-discovery became top priority.. enhancing my quality of like at a spiritual level was essential.. and the path of personal growth beckoned too invitingly to resist! Not that I “gave up” on regular fun things but was only too happy to stay home and read.. writing my “morning magic” messages.. listening to music and just spending time with myself!
Now when friends are travelling.. going to a movie.. drinking and partying.. going to a new restaurant.. once in a while I’m happy to go along.. but am truly at peace staying at home.. tidying up and restoring order to chaos.. My overriding sense of FOMO has now become a sense of JOMO.. also known as Joy Of Missing Out and I simply couldn’t be happier!
Travelling from FOMO to JOMO has been a phenomenal journey.. and I can only wish all of you to experience this joy for yourselves!
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