A Lost Peace: How Mobile Phones Are Silently Stealing Our Connections

A Lost Peace: How Mobile Phones Are Silently Stealing Our Connections

There was a time not too long ago when life moved slowly and gently. Days carried a natural calm, people lived with dignity, and families found comfort in sitting together. In those days, elders were the centre of the household. Their presence brought wisdom, their stories carried lessons, and their character shaped the young.

One of the most memorable figures from that era in my own family was my aunt’s grandfather lovingly known as “Mian Ji.” He lived for about 108 years, yet age never dulled his thoughts or weakened his presence. Whenever he visited, the house felt different as if a soft, warm celebration had arrived. We children would quietly gather around his cot, waiting eagerly for him to speak. We asked endless questions, some smart and some silly, but he never became annoyed. His patience felt limitless, and his kindness had no edges.

Whenever we asked him the secret behind his long life, he would smile gently, stroke his beard, and repeat the rules he had lived by.
He always said:

• Walk as much as you can.

• Eat fresh, simple food.

• Keep vegetables and fruits as the main part of your meals.

• Sleep early, wake early.

• Never miss your five daily prayers.

Then he would proudly add, “I have never slept under a fan in my whole life,” a statement that amazed us. But for him, it was a symbol of discipline, simplicity, and a life lived close to nature.

He told us stories of old times stories full of values like gratitude, contentment, honesty, and trust in God. He taught us that real success comes not from wealth or status, but from living with sincerity and peace of heart.

Back then, almost every household had elders like him anchors of wisdom who held families together. But then came the silent revolution of our times: mobile phones and digital screens. They promised communication and convenience, but they also quietly pulled us away from one another.

Today, it is common to see a family sitting in the same room, yet each person is mentally somewhere else lost in the tiny glowing screen in their hands. People are physically present but emotionally distant. Conversations pause every few seconds because of notifications. Laughter that once filled rooms now happens while watching strangers online.

We often call mobile phones a “necessity,” and perhaps they are. But for many young people and even adults this necessity has turned into dependency. Spending a few hours without a phone feels impossible. And when mobile services are suspended for a day due to security concerns, people panic as if life itself has been paused.

What is worse is that this harmful habit has reached even the youngest children. It is now normal to see toddlers eating only if a cartoon plays in front of them. Many mothers hand their child a phone just to get a few quiet moments. The child then sits still for hours eyes fixed, body motionless, mind disconnected. Later, when parents call them, they barely respond. Ironically, these same parents are sometimes too lost in their own headphones or screens to notice.

As a society, we have become prisoners of a device that fits in our palm. It has entered our bedrooms, our dining tables, our mosques, our classrooms and even our funerals. If we continue down this road, the future will be troubling. We risk creating a generation that knows everything happening in the world but knows nothing about the feelings of the people sitting beside them. A generation physically alive but emotionally numb.

But the solution is not to reject technology. That is neither possible nor practical. The real solution is balance reclaiming control instead of surrendering it.

Families can begin by setting simple rules such as:

• Phone-free time during meals

• Phone-free zones during family gatherings

• Avoiding screens at least one hour before sleeping

Parents must also remember that their children learn by watching them not by listening to their words. If parents themselves are glued to their screens, no rule or lecture will reduce a child’s screen time.

Schools, religious institutions, and community groups can also help. They can educate people about the physical and mental harm caused by excessive screen use  poor focus, sleep problems, anxiety, emotional distancing, and weak relationships.

Media can highlight the wisdom of elders like Mian Ji, reminding society that health and peace do not come from endless scrolling, likes, or followers. They come from simplicity, movement, spirituality, and genuine human connection.

On a personal level, each one of us must ask:
Who is in control me or my phone?

Phones were created to serve us, not rule us.
Small steps can make a big difference:

• Keep your phone aside when talking to elders or family.

• Visit parents not just for a missed call, but for real connection.

• Listen to their stories, even if you’ve heard them many times.

• Replace one hour of useless scrolling with a walk, a page of a book, or a meaningful conversation.

If we take these conscious steps, we may protect our next generation and also regain something precious from our past. We may not live as long as Mian Ji, but we can certainly live a life filled with peace, love, and the timeless values that once made our homes beautiful schools of character.