A few days ago, I experienced a tragedy that seemed potentially life-altering. My trusty iPhone indeed kicked the bucket, unable to be revived or fixed in any way. Due to the weekend, most stores were closed so I had to suck it up and live without a phone for a while. However, I am writing this still phone-less, and surprisingly feeling more liberated than ever.
Since I knew there wasn't a chance of my phone coming back to life, I left it in my desk drawer all weekend. Going out to eat, hanging out with friends, going to the football game, and even homework became an electronic-free environment for me--and I have to say I was surprised at how much I enjoyed myself and the great company I was surrounded by.
I'll be the first to admit that I'm hopelessly addicted to my phone, social media, and electronics in general. But with my broken phone, I was no longer getting my phone out of my purse to check if I had any new notifications every 30 seconds. I was no longer refreshing my Instagram feed instead of just looking at the people around me. I no longer had the thought of my iPhone in the back of my head. Instead, I could devote all my time and energy to the people I was with, and I am so grateful for that.
One weekend without my phone turned out to be one of my favorites at school so far, and I know it was no coincidence. At this point, I am not in too large of a rush to get my phone fixed, since I know the great consequences that came from it. I'm positive that this experience will encourage me to resist the temptation of iPhone addiction whenever I'm out and about with my friends. So next time, try and shut your phone off for a while when you're with others. You'd be surprised at how great it feels.
