Meditation has its virtues but a prerequisite for that is the ability to tolerate the distress of being present to yourself without distraction. The virtual world literally rewires our neural pathways to seek the immediate gratification of dopamine hits. Experiencing the sensory world in novel ways creates new neural pathways. After college, my 22 year old son spent a few months volunteering at a hospital in Africa. He learned empathy and distress tolerance. He boxes and plays guitar when not working and can read for hours. He uses no social media and does not blame feminists for the world’s problems. Meditation yes, but first predispose the brain to optimal functioning by being an active presence in the world, not behind a screen.