Someone I know was riding the subway in New York City and spotted a young man and woman who were sitting within two feet of one another, each intent on their phones. They didn’t know each other and with their heads down there was no chance that they ever would. She commented that a few years ago this moment may have been an occasion for love at first sight, the beginnings of a budding romance, or at least a flirtatious conversation. But neither saw the other. They never looked up from their phones.

We’re all so buried in our mobile devices. I’m guilty of it myself. I check my email every time a get a free moment. When I see a sunset, instead of enjoying the moment I reach for my phone camera. I take pictures of my food for Instagram. It’s embarrassing when you think about it.

Your #DolceVita action for this week is to put down the phone and take pen to paper.

Instead of taking a picture with your phone’s camera, enjoy the moment and then try to write down what you see. Describe the sunset, illustrate your meal with words. Write down physically what you see, hear, smell, taste and feel. Are you cold, warm, cranky, happy? Put it all down on paper. Exercise your metaphors and similes instead of just taking a photo.

They say a picture can speak a thousand words, but not if you are snapping photos instead of living in the moment.