FOMO vs. ROMO: A Reflection with Sana in Mind

FOMO vs. ROMO: A Reflection with Sana in Mind Lately, I’ve been hearing so much about FOMO — the Fear of Missing Out. It’s spoken about as if it’s an inevitable part of modern life, especially with the prevalence of social media. People see what others are doing, compare it to their own lives, and feel left behind. To be honest, I could never fully understand this. Why should missing one event, one opportunity, or one gathering make us feel so anxious? Why should we focus on what we’re not doing instead of appreciating what’s already present and meaningful in our lives? For me, the opposite has always been true. I’ve lived with ROMO — the Relief of Missing Out. When I’m not included in everything, I don’t feel left out. I feel at peace. Relieved that I don’t need to stretch myself thin. Relieved that I can just be — with family, in reflection, or simply in quiet. Sana, m never spoke much about FOMO either. In her own way, she understood the value of stillness. She wasn’t one to chase after every trend or worry about missing out on what others were doing. What mattered to her was depth — conversations that had meaning, connections that felt real, books that opened her imagination. When I think of ROMO, I think of Sana. She taught me, even without saying it directly, that it’s okay not to be everywhere, not to do everything. That peace often comes from less, not more. FOMO thrives on comparison. ROMO thrives on clarity. And in the quiet lessons of grief, I find myself holding onto ROMO even more tightly. I don’t need to run after what others are doing. I just need to honor what truly matters, to live with gratitude for the moments I have, and to carry Sana’s spirit of depth and authenticity forward. Maybe, just maybe, ROMO is not missing out at all — it’s choosing what really matters.