Have you ever been to a gathering that you are present but not present? You were probably wishing and praying they hastened up so you can leave. Or you were just busy pressing your phone to take more time.
I was presence but not present.
Sometimes we show up for events, gatherings, or celebrations not because we want to be there, but because we don’t want to be questioned, judged, or fined. We just want to be marked “present.”
And honestly, that alone can feel exhausting.
Honestly, many people do these things, they show up not necessarily because they want to but because they feel pressured to be present. To avoid that feel of guilt for not showing up. It’s like an unspoken rule in society: “Just be there, so nobody will talk.”
We i took an attendance.
For introverts, this pressure is even heavier. Not everyone enjoys crowds, noise, or endless social expectations. But the society wouldn't even asks how we feel. Instead, it keeps demanding attendance—physically, even when mentally we are somewhere else entirely.
Yet being “present” should mean more than just to ticking a box. It should be about connection, meaning, and choosing where our energy goes. If your heart isn’t there, if your mind is drained, if your spirit feels forced… is that really presence?
I think it's time we nirmalize the truth that showing up doesn't always mean you care and staying away doesn't mean you don't
Protecting your peace is the real presence.
Sometimes, protecting your peace is the real presence.
