Brendas Blog – January 1, 2019
“I just replaced FOMO with JOMO.”
Those words caught my attention. Working with college students has given me a deeper understanding of the FOMO lifestyle. FOMO? Fear Of Missing Out. Interestingly, many of those we meet think this is a new phenomenon, specific to them. But we women of the “have it all” generation have walked this road.
We didn’t have lives “enhanced” by digital devices, but we had calendars, and day-timers which ruled. As a college student in the 60s. white space on my campus-themed organizer meant something was going on without me. Long before authors of the Experience Economy explained the success of Nordstroms and Starbucks, we embraced happenings, whether musical, political, spiritual – or all of the above. Being there and being seen was de rigueur.
Calendar pages have now flown by and that young woman has turned into a nearly 75 year old (who is still amazed at the mirror reflection of this oldish lady) who is being told missing out isn’t the end of life. Choosing wisely allows strength to be in the right place at the right time with the ability to engage and enjoy.
So, when I heard the observation about FOMO’s being replaced by JOMO, I immediately connected. JOMO? Joy Of Missing Out. Instead of focusing on the art of saying no, I can now look at all the opportunities, putting some (more and more) into the JOMO bucket. Just saying no isn’t enough. There must be a sense of knowing when and why – and then rejoicing.
Running breathlessly, filling in calendars, making appearances, and wondering where the time goes turns us into a tangle of experiences with no central theme.
I laughed at JOMO, but then realized how thankful I am for a way to describe this season. I may miss a dinner or two, certainly the latest movie, and maybe even the most current book, but it will give me time to show up for coffee with friends, trips with grandchildren, and weekend refreshments without jamming them into a schedule full of “need to go” rather than “want to go.”
Find your JOMO!