So Woke You 'Forgot' to Reply: Mindfulness in the Age of Ghosting

So Woke You 'Forgot' to Reply: Mindfulness in the Age of Ghosting, By Ciann Masi

So Woke You 'Forgot' to Reply: Mindfulness in the Age of Ghosting

Take a deep breath. Inhale presence. Exhale all the people who ask a question, receive a thoughtful response, and then vanish into the void like wOkE ghosts.

It’s funny, isn’t it? We talk about awareness, gratitude, and energy, yet somehow replying to a message feels like just too much. They reach out, you pause your day, tune in, offer presence… and then… crickets. No reply. No acknowledgment. Not even a “ty.” The thread just hangs there, like an unfinished exhale.

I’m going to hold your hand while I explain this: Awareness isn’t only for yoga mats or journals. It shows up in the small things, like replying to a message.

Ghosting Isn’t A Vibe, It’s Just Rude

We talk about honoring space and energy. Attention is energy. Effort is energy. Responding, even briefly, is energy.

Ghosting chips away at trust and connection. When someone shows up for you and you leave them hanging, it is not conscious. It is simply rude. You got the information you wanted, and now that person doesn’t matter. This is not thoughtful. This is not cool. It is a choice rooted in ego, a performative act that dismisses the energy someone gave you and reflects a lack of awareness about your own behavior and the way you choose to show up in the world.

Awareness includes noticing the humans who took the time to reach out.

“Chill” Texting Aesthetic: Effort Disguised as Effortless

And let’s talk about the texting style that often floats around this vibe:

lowercase everything no punctuation no structure one long breathless whisper of a sentence

The irony? It actually takes effort.

Autocorrect: “Here, let me add a period. Maybe capitalize the first word like a functioning adult.”

Them: “No!… backspace… no caps… no punctuation… just pure, lowercase detachment.”

That’s not effortless. That's performative.

It’s curated to say: I don’t care, while caring just enough to make that your personality.

Intentional Laziness Is Still a Choice

Let’s be clear: all-lowercase, punctuation-free texting isn’t “just how I text.”

That choice sends a message. It signals disconnection or detachment.

It’s giving: wannabe aesthetic, over awareness. It’s also giving: not present.

If mindfulness is about showing up with intention, then yes, the way you communicate can reflect presence or resistance, because it is in the small details that awareness grows and gives shape to the larger ones.

Digital Presence Is Still Presence

Every message carries energy. When someone reaches out and you acknowledge them, even with a short reply or emoji, you are offering presence. You are saying, I see you.

Being aware includes showing up in everyday life. That includes text threads, DMs, and emails.

Mindful Practices

Acknowledge quickly. Even a “thanks” or an emoji honors the energy someone shared with you.

Pause before sending. Take a breath before replying. Awareness lives in the pause and in the choice to respond thoughtfully.

Close the loop. Leaving threads hanging can feel dismissive. Completing a conversation is a small act of participation and respect.

Return to Breath, Return to the Thread

Take one more inhale. One more exhale.

And maybe, next time, return to the text thread too. Because presence isn’t just about meditation or journaling . Presence is awareness in action. It is noticing, responding, and practicing reciprocity with those who give you their energy. Even if it’s just a reply.

🧘🏻‍♀️

© 2002-2025 Ciann Masi and OM&Soul Productions. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use or reproduction of this material is prohibited.