Lessons from the Unplugged Life: The Art of Being Here

As the final week of camp arrived, I started to notice time differently. Days felt both full and fleeting. Moments I’d once let pass without much thought suddenly became precious: a quiet morning reading my book, a warm cup of tea on the dining hall porch, the sun spilling gold across the lake before breakfast.

I think it’s because I’d learned – truly learned – how to live in the moment. Here, without technology buzzing in my pocket, I wasn’t distracted by what might happen tomorrow or what I’d missed yesterday. Life became about exactly where I was and who I was with. And that presence changed everything.

Conversations around the campfire were richer. Songs sung at night felt louder and more heartfelt. Even washing dishes with friends became an experience to enjoy, because it was time spent together.

The end of camp also made me more aware of connection. Without screens, every hug, every shared laugh, every goodbye felt deeper – as if we were storing up these memories to carry with us beyond the gates of camp.

Living this way has shifted my perspective far beyond camp life. I’ve realised that presence isn’t just a skill for special places – it’s something you can bring to every part of life. You don’t need a lake view or a campfire to appreciate the little things; you just need to notice them.

And that’s the gift camp gave me: the ability to slow down, look up, and be fully in the moment – before it’s gone.