Wednesday, October 23, 2024

Tales for AI times - Screen Swipe

Tales for AI Times: The Screen Swipe

There was a great organization that had started to notice the steady decline of its employees' wellbeing. People were exhausted, distracted, and stressed out.

To address this, the company decided to hold a coaching session at a resort. As part of the program, the employees were asked to take part in a “screen detox”—no phones, no computers, no digital devices. The goal was to help them reconnect with the world.

Two employees, Maya and Moh, were sent out to test their ability to stay off screens by taking a walk around the city.

As they strolled through a busy mall, they spotted an elderly man struggling at a self-checkout counter. He seemed lost, unsure how to finish paying for his items. Without hesitation, Maya stepped forward and helped him finish the transaction. The man thanked her, and she rejoined Moh, who had been quietly watching.

After about an hour, Moh turned to Maya and said, “Weren’t we supposed to avoid screens today? But you still used the checkout screen.”

Maya calmly looked at him and smiled. “I already let that go the moment I finished helping him,” she said. “Are you still swiping through that thought?”

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Did this remind you of the story of Zen monks helping a girl cross the river? 

In the modern context of screen addiction and digital mindfulness, the message remains the same: helping someone in need transcends the challenge while holding onto the act long after it’s done becomes the real burden.

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#suswasaSpace #TalesForAITimes 

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