Today at lunch, my close friend yelled at us for being on our smartphones at the table. We had all had a stressful week and were complaining that we hardly saw or spent time with each other. But here we were, seven close friends, a decent meal, many possible topics of conversations but glued to our phone screens. Rather than having a conversation together, we were still all caught up in our own little worlds.

I love being able to stay up to date with what's going on in my world, and I love having constant access to my emails and social media accounts. So what do I hate about smartphones? I hate the smartphones complex — how they draw us closer to the world but further away from those standing right beside us.

Our smartphones have many great functions, and they do so many good things, but they do harm as they make our lives easier. We're able to connect even though we are miles apart, and we are able to capture our day-to-day moments to share them with friends and loved ones. They serve to enhance our relationships and friendships, but how can we enhance those connections if they were never made in the first place?

You'd be surprised how many precious moments pass us by because we weren't there to live in the moment. We've gotten so caught up in reliving the moment that we hardly remember how it feelings to thoroughly enjoy a moment while we're still there. We direct message rather than talk face to face. We tweet what's on our minds rather than start a conversation with those around us.

Many have died due to us being too engrossed in our phones. From people texting while driving to persons forgetting what to do during an emergency due to the urgency to tweet, we've become a society enslaved to our phones. Our phones have become our masters and we the mere servants. We rush to its every notification and respond to its every need — charging at every possible station.

Don't get me wrong, I love how our smartphones can keep us connected. Currently living far from home, it has helped me to be a part of all the family celebrations I miss, and they become a part of my day-to-day life. However, what I don't like is how this tool, our smartphones, have made us their slaves.

We use our phones to keep us entertained rather than hanging out with friends and family. (P.S. You're not hanging out with people unless you take the time to truly spend time with them. Not because you posted a pic that says #hangingwithfriends. It doesn't mean you were actually present at the event long enough to create a true memory.)

So the next time you're out with family and friends, be out with family and friends. Set your phone aside for a moment and spend time creating true memories. Spend time getting to know those around you rather than stalking them on Facebook after your encounter. Start an actual conversation; use your words through your voice rather than your words through a tweet. It's okay to cherish a moment, but you can't truly cherish a moment you never had. Live in the moment as it will make reliving the moment an even greater experience.