Life is better when we are present

It is URGENT to stop.
Be fully present. Listen carefully. Say what remains unsaid.

What good is it for MEO to give us its best, to always be there for us, if the present is made up of absence?

Life is better when we are present

History of the airplane

You can change your life, move to a different city, or even move to a different country, but there’s only one place in the world where you feel at home.

Father's Story

Better than having things to tell is knowing that we always have someone to listen to us.

Wedding story

After sayingsim,” who was the first person you told simto share the news?

Grandfather's Story

This is a warm embrace for everyone who carries someone in their heart. In one way or another, it is memories that bring us closer together.

The Story of Friends

Your group of friends has a TV show stories. But how long has it been since you came up with stories worthy of a movie?

History of chickens

There is no better way to learn about family than by being with family.

History of divorce

When we take a step forward, there are memories that do not stay behind.

Together to value what really matters

MEO, the MEO Foundation, and Mirabilis have joined forces to promote reflection on the importance of being more present in our lives, in our relationships, and in the moments that make a difference.

More alone than ever?

Being present is not a symbolic gesture. It is a factor in human connection.

Are you truly present?

Life happens when attention is not divided.

The lack of presence that weakens the family

Presence strengthens bonds. Absence weakens them.

1 in 6 people suffer from the effects of loneliness

In an era where the possibilities for connecting with other people are almost endless, by contrast, there seem to be more and more people who feel profoundly lonely ⁽¹⁾.

Test your Present Mode here

Present mode

You know when to disconnect to connect to what matters. The moments with you are felt, and life is better that way.

Conscious mode

You can't always be 100%, but you have that intention. And when you realize you're drifting away, you come back.

Split mode

You want to be present, but you can't always switch off. Maybe it's time to choose more real moments.

Distracted mode

You are not always fully present in the moments that matter. And sometimes, what is happening around you passes you by without you noticing.

Absent mode

People count on you, but they don't always feel you are close by. But every moment is an opportunity to return to the present.

Do you need to know how to start being more present?

Discover simple ways to be real with those who matter.

10 hours a day connected

We are becoming less and less present. Relationships are strengthened face to face, not on screen ⁽²⁾.

6 out of 10 children

They claim that parents are often distracted when they need to be listened to ⁽³⁾.

50 hours of live interaction

It is the time needed to go from acquaintance to "casual friend" and 90 hours for the friendship to consolidate ⁽⁴⁾.

Preserve everyday moments without technology

A coffee, a break, and mindfulness can strengthen the relationships that matter most. When it's on the agenda, it's no longer an intention. It becomes a presence.

Visit someone you haven't seen in person for a long time

There are people who remain in the same place, waiting for you to appear. And they will never tell you how much that means to them. There are hugs, silences, and presences that cannot be replaced.

Make time to truly be with someone

There are moments that only exist when you are truly there. Look back at photos with someone special, talk face to face. Each photo and each conversation is proof that you were truly together.

From individuals to businesses, presence makes all the difference

In companies, too, being present starts with the people.

Without proximity, what happens to innovation?

A physical presence is not just a logistical detail; it is a catalyst for innovation.

Ideas that come up in meetings… or during chance encounters?

A lot of innovation happens in casual conversations.

Can there be an organizational culture without genuine human interaction?

Culture thrives in everyday interactions.

In-person onboarding speeds up the onboarding process by 2.5 times

New employees learn faster through direct interaction.⁽⁵⁾

+12% connection to the company culture, with an active presence

Teams that are present demonstrate greater engagement and identification with the organization.⁽⁶⁾

30% more conflicts are resolved more effectively face-to-face

Reading nonverbal cues makes conversations clearer and more effective.⁽⁷⁾

Effective meetings start without smartphones

When everyone is present, decisions are made more quickly and effectively.

Short breaks during the workday

Sometimes, taking a break is what helps the work move forward. Everything else can wait a few minutes.

Set an example: be present at work, but know your limits

Being constantly connected isn’t the same as being available. Leadership also means knowing when to disconnect.

Keep your work smartphone separate from your personal life

When everything happens on the same screen, there’s no room to breathe. Everything in its place.

Strengthening human relationships and presence

Programs that foster more connections, more conversations, and more support, bringing together those who need companionship with those seeking connection.

Combating isolation and promoting inclusion

Technology that serves people, connecting those who are alone and including those who were previously left out.

Digital Responsibility and Mental Health

Promoting safer, more balanced, and more humane digital connections.

⁽¹⁾ Data from the World Health Organization, in a report that points to more than 870,000 deaths per year worldwide from illnesses caused by sadness and stress felt when people do not have the social connections they would like to have.

⁽²⁾ Digital Consumer 2021.

⁽³⁾ Study from *Highlights* magazine (October 14, 2014), in *The Anxious Generation*, by Jonathan Haidt.

⁽⁴⁾ Hall, J. A. (2018). "How many hours does it take to make a friend?" Journal of Social and Personal Relationships.

⁽⁵⁾ Frögéli E, Jenner B, Gustavsson P. Effectiveness of formal onboarding for facilitating organizational socialization: A systematic review. PLoS One. 2023 Feb 16;18(2):e0281823. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0281823. PMID: 36795691; PMCID: PMC9934447.

⁽⁶⁾ Gallup, Gallup Blog “Why the Onboarding Experience Is Key for Retention”.

⁽⁷⁾ A. Pentland, “Honest Signals: How They Shape Our World” (Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press, 2008), Appendix B.

Social and family isolation emerges as a silent but consistent effect of excessive or inappropriate use of digital technologies.

This isolation manifests itself in reduced face-to-face interaction time, lower quality face-to-face communication, and weakened emotional bonds, especially when digital technology replaces rather than complements shared presence and attention.

The constant presence of devices in everyday life introduces fragmented attention, affecting the quality of human interactions.

Even when there is physical proximity, technological mediation can create a form of "absent presence," with a direct impact on communication, empathy, and relationships between people.

The interference of technology in family routines weakens bonds of security. In children and adolescents, this absence of presence is associated with greater sadness, emotional withdrawal, and a tendency to stop asking for help or attention over time.

Without proximity, what happens to innovation?

Even with all the technology available, the best results still come when people work side by side. More than just a minor detail, being there in person accelerates the impact.

Do the best ideas come from meetings… or from chance encounters?

A lot of innovation happens during impromptu conversations, in the hallway, or at the coffee table. When everything is scheduled, the unexpected stops happening.

Can there be an organizational culture without genuine human interaction?

Trust and a sense of belonging are fostered through direct interaction. Culture is less about documents and more about day-to-day relationships.