If you're reading this, chances are you know the excitement, nervousness, and overall heart-thumping experience of getting a new phone (especially if the phone just came out).
I'm a person who usually does a TON of research regarding the phone I'm planning to get. This is not limited to watching hundreds (yes, hundreds) of unboxing videos (thanks @iJustine), videos of drop tests, researching specs, and looking at the phone's tags on all social media handles. If you looked at my Instagram search history, you would see "#iphone8plus" in different formats. Yes, I am addicted, but i am informed.
I must admit that every time I step into the Verizon store, my heart beats a little quicker. If you relate to that, maybe you'll relate to the following stages of getting a new phone.

1. The News

You found out you're upgrading your phone WHAT!? YES! FINALLY! You do your little happiness, being careful not to drop your current phone so you can trade it in for a little extra moolah off your impending larger phone bill.

2. The Contrast

You feel your heart sink just the tiniest bit as you scroll through Instagram on your current phone. You feel like you've become a traitor to this phone. After all you've been through! The countless drops on tile or wood floors (or even worse-concrete!) and the relief you felt when you checked the screen to see 0 cracks. The times you barely made it to a charger in time. The times it held a charge for way longer than you'd thought possible. The great memories you've had with this phone are soon to be left for new memories to be made with another, shinier model. You feel your phone glaring at you from its place on your nightstand.

3. The Building Excitement/Obsession

As the day approaches, you find yourself looking at pictures of the phone you plan to get and you plan out EVERYTHING, to the point where your mom's a little concerned. You decided what color, what memory size, and even what case you're going to get. Heck, you already ordered the phone case the day you found out you're getting the phone.

4. The Hesitance

You find yourself questioning yourself. Are you sure this is the phone you want? After hours and hours of researching and watching unboxing videos and drop test videos, you find yourself questioning if the phone will be durable enough, if the battery will last long enough for your needs, and so on and so forth. You feel conflicted, wondering if you should save your money (or your mom/dad's money) and keep your old phone, broken phone case and all, just because you can't make up your mind.

5. The Day Arrives

Alas, the day has arrived! You step into the phone carrier store and see the gorgeous phone from across the room. Like Taylor Swift's "Love Story", you feel young and excited and in love as you gaze at it from across the room. Despite doubting yourself and bouncing back and forth between models of phones, you did it. You decided on a phone and have no doubts in your mind that this is love. You test yourself, holding the phone without a case, but you don't dare leave the store without a case on that baby. As you leave the store, you hesitate to even take it out of your pocket, but spend the day/night playing with your new toy. There's no feeling like it, and you feel yourself glowing with happiness at your decision.

(For those of you saying I'm overreacting, you've obviously never felt the sheer joy of getting a new phone after researching it for weeks in advance. Kthanksbye.)