I think about when my mother would pack a picnic lunch for us to take to the beach. There were sandwiches, fruit, specific homemade cookies, drinks, Twizzlers, and chips — it was a regular meal. Today, the summer aisles are featuring “Snackleboxes”, snacks in a knockoff of a tackle box.
It’s the on-the-go version of charcuterie boards, which in themselves are pared-down versions of a full deli tray. The theme: bite-sized.
Everything seems to be brief these days. “Friends” are the other side of a social media click, instead of an enduring acquaintance with whom you spend countless hours. News is digested through ticker tapes on the bottom of a television screen or by short headlines on the phone’s feed. Forget about analysis; anything over a few sentences is deemed “TL; DR” (too long, didn’t read).
We are consuming our food, our friends, and our news in micro-bites. There is a focus on quick and now, without much thought to the long term. Think about one thing that matters to you and go deep with how you interact with it. Make a full meal. Actually talk to your friend. Read the entire article — or even two to get a broader perspective. Depth matters for the future.
