The Romance Of Life: And How Technology Quietly Took It From Us
We Weren’t Always So Plugged In
There was a time when life held more mystery.
When we could wander without needing to know where we were going.
When we met people through chance, not algorithms.
When the sunset wasn’t just something to capture, it was something to feel, to be in awe of.
Somewhere along the way, convenience replaced curiosity.
We reach for our phones before we even notice our surroundings. We check reviews before discovering a place for ourselves. We scroll for hours, yet say we “don’t have time” to take a walk, to read a book, to phone a friend, to spend time with our loved ones, or build a supportive community.
And slowly, life lost a little … perhaps, a lot of its magic.
We’ve gained so much with technology: efficiency, ease, endless access. But in return, we’ve traded something far more intimate: the slow, romantic rhythm of living. The part that makes life feel alive. The quiet ache of yearning. The joy of discovering something … or someone on your own. The wonder of not knowing what comes next, and the quiet charm of figuring things out the long way. We’ve let algorithms choose for us, forgotten how to seek without a map, how to fall in love without swiping … endlessly!
Convenience may keep things moving, but it doesn't offer connection. It also flattens the edges… the very edges that make life an adventure. And maybe that’s the point of it all: the serendipity, the surprise, the stretch of becoming.
The real beauty of life has always been in the detours
But … it’s not gone. It’s just waiting for us to look up.
Step outside without your phone and let yourself wander. No map. No plan. Just you and your senses. What might you notice? The sound of birds you’d usually tune out. The smile from a stranger you would’ve missed. A cute corner café with no online presence but the best cup of coffee, pastry, or meal you’ve had in a while.
Go to the park with a book. Not for the aesthetic, but for the pleasure of getting lost in someone else’s world without reaching for your phone every five minutes.
Some of the best discoveries come from a friend or an acquaintance’s recommendation and not a search on Google or TikTok. Other times, they happen unexpectedly, like wandering into a pottery class, an art exhibition, or a vintage store filled with hidden gems, simply because curiosity led you there, not because it was trending.
These aren’t big, dramatic steps like going off the grid. They’re simple, everyday things that will help you fall in love with life again… slowly, gently, and often without the pressure to document it.
Coming Home To Stillness
And when you return home, sun-warmed, a little windswept, maybe carrying a book, a story, or a new idea … light a candle. Let it mark the shift from that outer discovery to inner stillness. Let the flame soften the transition between the world and yourself. Between doing and being.
We make candles because we believe in these moments. In pausing long enough to notice how you feel. In creating rituals that bring you back to your senses. In romanticizing the ordinary, not for anyone else, but for you.
Technology isn’t the enemy. But maybe it’s time to reclaim a little space.
To let life surprise you again.
To fall in love with the world as it is, not through a screen.
So here’s your gentle invitation:
Put your phone on Do Not Disturb.
Step outside.
Look around.
There’s more to discover than we’ve been led to believe.
And most of it doesn’t require WiFi … just presence.
Do you catch yourself scrolling when you’d rather be living?
We want to hear how you’re reclaiming your time and rediscovering life’s quiet magic.
Join the conversation below or on Instagram @cocostremi
Until then, breath deep, light slow, come back to you.