outside | I'm not trying to be on these online streets
Lessons from Ari Lennox on not being outside like that.
outside
adjective
situated on or near the exterior or external surface of something.
The older I get the less desire I have to be outside. I don’t mean this in a literal sense. I go for long walks often and find being indoors all day really bad for my mental health. When I say I have no desire to be outside I mean I’m not trying to be up and down on these streets.
When it comes to the outside world at large, I’m not trying to be involved too tough. Let me see my loved ones, do two two link ups, catch a play every so often and keep it moving. That being said, my desire not to be outside isn’t so much in relation to the physical world.
The streets I’m referring to when I say I’m not trying to be outside are digital streets. As an individual I’m not looking to be super active on social media. When it comes to being online, let me message my loved ones, write two two sugar shots and keep it moving.
I don’t want to subject myself to the negative consequences which come from being chronically online. I don’t even like subjecting myself to the consequences of being partially online. I’m not trying to be outside.
I’m not outside but other people in my life are. These people keep me abreast of what’s happening outside. Recently I was sent a screenshot of Ari Lennox’s most recent Instagram post. In it the Grammy nominated singer declares she’ll be permanently deleting all her social media accounts.
Lennox speaks about how she doesn’t feel she’ll ever be able to mature or be happy whilst she has social media. The fear of losing brand deals and music sales is no longer enough to keep her on social media sites. Ari Lennox is cutting from socials on December 18th, the two year anniversary of her sobriety.
It’s a brave move. Many professionals don’t want to be outside but the option to be otherwise feels non existent. I’m rooting for Ari Lennox. I’m fascinated to see what direction her career takes from this point forward. I hope there’s an obvious upturn in her trajectory as an artist so that others are emboldened to do the same.
To this day I count seeing Ari Lennox live at the Electric Ballroom in 2019 as one of the best concerts I’ve been to. She’s an incredible singer-songwriter with a majestic presence on stage. Nights like those are the ones I’ll always find a way to be outside for. Not that I’m really trying to be outside like that.