It finally happened.

Two weeks ago, I was washing my face, doing the nighttime daily routine. As I went to grab my towel, my phone suddenly submerged. And y’all… I mean completely went underwater.

Startled, as if I had dropped my own child, I quickly grabbed the phone and began drying it off. And somehow… It still worked.

I am so lucky, I thought to myself. No hair dryers, or buckets of rice… Nothing. Yet two weeks later, I think this feeling of “luck” got the best of me, because my cellular device went from 100 to 0 real quick.

The phone finally shut down, unable to charge, turn on, nothing. A solid block of useless-ness. And want to know the convenient part? This was right before my weekend trip to an island off the coast of Florida, with no Verizon or Apple store in sight.

So, I was phone-less and completely disconnected from society for a few days. But the funny thing is, I actually learned a bit about myself in this time.

Here are five key things I learned about myself minus a phone, and I think they’re pretty important. Take a look and see if you can attest to these things as well.

1. Without a phone… I didn’t compare.

Sometimes, I find myself mindlessly scrolling through Instagram. Without thinking, I’ll pick up my phone, and with no direction from my mind, my fingers find the small brown camera or big blue F and begin scrolling away. And then what follows? Comparison. Constantly comparing my life to the “picture-perfect” images displayed before me. Thinking things such as, “My vacation isn’t as fun as hers,” or “I wish I was doing that.” Without a phone, I could look around at my friends and family this Easter weekend and say two words: I’m thankful. Comparison is the thief of joy, and often, our own technology ignites it. I encourage everyone reading this, even just for a day-- leave your phone in your dorm room and see how your outlook changes. You can’t change your situation, but you can change one thing—and that’s the way you choose to view it.

2. Without a phone… I loved people well.

Loving people well is a hard task as it is. Why? Because so often we think we can love everyone the same. But that is the farthest thing from true… While some feel loved with quality time, others feel loved with words of affirmation, and some may even need both. Without a phone, I was focused. I was aware. And I was truly with those around me. When I was disconnected from texting and snapchatting people on a screen, I was able to love and pay attention to those around me. This past weekend, I got to spend time with a friend who I haven’t seen in close to a year. With no phone, I was able to give this friend 100 percent attention, and spend good, quality time with her. Ever feel as though you spent time with a friend, but never really talked about anything meaningful? Well next time, turn off your phone and go spend some time with that friend, and see how your conversations may change. Trust me, you’ll see a big difference.

3. Without a phone… I listened.

Listening. A skill many, including myself, have yet to master. I think this was one of my favorite things to do without my phone this weekend. Because so often, instead of listening to those around me, I find myself “listening” to social media. Now don’t get me wrong, it is a wonderful thing to call people hundreds of miles away, and be able to hear the person's voice and talk about life. Yet, there becomes a problem when we are so consumed in scrolling through Twitter and Instagram feeds, and sending selfies every second, that we are unable to listen to the person sitting right across from us. Want to know something that really hurt my heart this weekend? As I was driving around town sitting in the passenger seat with my mom, and just simply talking, I found myself asking when the last time was that I just sat and talked with her. Because most of the time I’m either sending an email or watching Snapchat stories, halfheartedly listening, while her words go through one ear and out the other.

4. Without a phone... I was at peace.

When aren’t we busy? It’s true, and especially for my fellow Deacs. We are never not busy. Life is constantly going, and not stopping for anyone. We always will have emails to send, papers to write, meetings to plan, and work to get done. Time won’t stop, but we can. This weekend without my phone, I felt incredibly at peace. I wasn’t reminded of the three papers I have to write when I get back to school, and I never looked down and my calendar and notepad of “things to do” when I got back to school. I was simply at peace with the moment and time I was given. Wouldn’t that be neat? If we could constantly be content with the time and moment before us, instead of planning for the next one? Without a phone, you’re given that chance. And man, would I encourage, or even dare you all to take that challenge.

5. Without a phone…. I was present.

“Wherever you are, be all there.”

This weekend, I was able to do just this: Be. I was able to laugh, listen, and be with the people around me. Now, believe me, I need my email and I love my Instagram. Yet, too much of something good… Yeah, you know the phrase. This isn’t an article to write that I’m giving up my phone for an entire year, no… It’s not that. It’s simply a reflection, and hopefully, one that can resonate with readers that time is short. Moments with people are quick. And life is fleeting. Might as well enjoy it before it passes, right?

So I encourage my readers to ask themselves one thing, and that’s this:

How many conversations did you have in person today, and how many did you have over the phone?

If one of these weighs much heavier than the other, and it is the one that involves ring tones and SMS, then I would seriously consider stepping back and clicking the off button.

Or maybe you’ll get lucky like I did, and technology will shut itself down for a few days and remind you how great life can be unplugged.