When I tossed that chunky red slider phone in my junk drawer, I never thought it would see the light of day again. I had just unboxed my shiny new smartphone and I was eager to start being connected. Up until that day, if I wanted to communicate with someone, I was stuck with only one option: calling. There were no apps or music, and I didn't even have a texting plan.
Since opening my first smartphone, I've become very attached to my phone. I carry it with me every day and I rely on it for all sorts of tasks. It's one of my most valued positions, and I don't know what I would do if I ever lost it. But despite how important it is to my life now, I can't help but miss my dumbphone a little bit.
Distraction is the biggest reason I sometimes think about my dumbphone. Whenever I don't want to interact with the situation I'm in, I can always pull out my phone to distract myself. Sometimes I don't even have anything I want to see on it but I compulsively pull it out just to look for something to do instead of engaging with my surroundings. I'm sure I miss the opportunity to talk to people all the time because of this.
I also kinda miss the inconvenience of a dumbphone, as odd as that sounds. If someone needed to get ahold of me, they used to have to actually call me. If I wasn't available, they could leave a voicemail, and I would respond to it when I got the chance. There was no demand for instant replies and I wasn't bothered with being notified of things that aren't important.
Although directions are something I praise my phone for a lot, even the lack of that I miss on my dumbphone. If I was truly lost, I could call for help. Otherwise, I could ask people for directions or I was on my own to find where I needed to go. It gave me a greater feeling of accomplishment when I had to use landmarks and verbal cues to get around, and it helped me get over my fear of asking questions.
The sheer simplicity of a dumbphone is something else I've been longing for lately. I charged it about once a week and that was enough. I wasn't bombarded with notifications or software updates. I wasn't bothered with trying not to miss anything that's happening in the world with email and news apps. I didn't even need a case for it.
Ultimately, in spite of all the love I still have for my old phone, I don't think I could ever get away from my smartphone, especially in today's world. There is too much practicality in having one, and it really does make my life a lot easier. It's earned its keep in my pocket, even though it may be needier at times, but my dumbphone will always hold a special place in my heart.
