FOMO!

                                                                                                                                                   May .1 .2018


FOMO — fear of missing out, the expression I had learned during the last summer.  

Usually there are so many funs going on in the summer of Berlin, or maybe almost of everywhere. The mixture of the hormones, sweat and alcohol permeates in the air, the red cheeks of the young and slandered girls shine beautifully under the melting sun which tastes like caramel. Who does not fear of missing out?

Like today, 1. May. It is almost a tradition to go out there on the street in the most hipster areas in the city, and taking part in one of the leftist demonstrations, having some street food while holding a beer in your hand, rolling a special cigarette with one hand, being cool, and so on. 

When I finished my morning shift around 3pm, the subway was packed with the ecstatic people, who were so ready to party out of the day. The smell inside the subway was not pleasant but it was not enough to deter the hyperactive crowds. Today, your identity is no more important and the class differences are blurred. No matter black, white, yellow or brown, office staff, workers, artists or jobless folks, straight or LGBTQ persons, as long as you may label yourself as a political correct cool person from Berlin, you must be felt obligated to celebrate the Labour Day, which contains a huge symbolic meaning for the western democracy and freedom. If you choose to stay home without any rightfully objective reasons, like or not, you might be considered either as asocial or shameful of missing out the most important annually event to express your pioneering liberal political thinking and to feel the vibes of Berlin. I also stopped and thought for a few minutes if I should join the people.

Although nobody hardly knows where to go exactly and what are the most crucial topics or struggles they ought to talk about, which opposition groupings they should follow, and until when this party is over. Most of the people would just aimlessly follow certain crowds for about two hours until they get exhausted and cold and losing the interests, they would slowly approach the nearest the pizza restaurant, get a beer, pee in the bushes, and finally intentionally fall behind. The day is achieved! 

Well the routine may look damn banal but the absence is nevertheless intolerable.

Perhaps everyone has more or less FOMO, though from different perspectives. The fear of missing a big fat party, the beginning of a film, the last train, a date, a marriage, a chance of being a mother/father, time with family, the fear of being forgot and neglected, or fleeting youth, energy, curiosity, creation and even memories.


 

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