Why I do not read all my messages and why you shouldn't too

Look, I acknowledge this is not a very popular opinion. I feel guilty when I do not respond as quickly as the concerned person would have wanted. I also admit that I feel insulted when someone doesn't text me back right away.

My WhatsApp unread chat count

As you can see from the screenshot above, I have too many unread messages. Yes, I know it is 'too many'. Some may feel it's too messy or I am too unorganized.  But before you judge me further, let me clarify few things:

1. I am part of many WhatsApp groups where both way interaction is not required; groups where information related to jobs are posted. I can share any information about job vacancies (if I have) and choose to ignore the rest of the message (since I am not the recipient)
2. Most of the unread chats ended with "okay", "fine", "Thank you" and other such concluding remarks. I choose to not open the chat to read them. Those are anyway seen from notification panel
3. I could be at work. I choose not to get interrupted while I am at work. Text messages are a high value interruption, especially if we respond to each other right away
4. There are many family groups, uncles and aunts who keeps wishing everyone Good morning and good night. I can choose to ignore those kind of messages without any repercussion
5. Too many festive greetings. Some friends and groups are there only to wish festivities. I look away from those (well most of them, not all)
6. I may not be in the mood. I could be a bit cross with certain things in my life and I may not be in that situation to respond emotionally
7. One very important reason of not responding it soon enough is that phones and messages were made for me, and not the other way round. I don't want to be slave to a mobile device. When I find time I read text message. It could be on weekends, or later in the day

It's not like I am too busy. I am very much active in the chats where my attention is required. But the good thing is that I can choose the time and duration of this wonderful technology. The technology does influence us how we think, but let it not drive us crazy. I do respond to each text, wherever required. 

In no way I am defending certain people who:

• Is too lazy to respond
• Reads the message and ignores and never replies back because they 'forgot'

See, it's your life and you only get to live it once. Live it to its fullest. And it’s too short to worry about people being mad that you don’t reply to their text right away.