We live in a world where technology is everywhere and our phones are practically attached to our hands. Information is immediate and communication is constant. We grew up in this world and we spend every waking moment in it, so when you step back from it, the things you learn can be truly eye-opening.
About a week ago, I was playing with my phone, and after taking it apart, realized I could not get it to work when I put it back together. Knowing I was due for an upgrade anyway, I decided not to stress too much, and simply go to the phone store the following evening. Long story short, my quest for my phone upgrade was unsuccessful, leaving me phoneless. As per my usual insanity, I decided to go with the flow until the weekend, when I could try to replace my phone. As the week wore on, I came to realize how truly dependent I have become on my phone.
Aside from the obvious changes, I couldn't check social media or text messaging every two seconds, I couldn't snap a quick picture of my dinner, and I couldn't google the actor in that one movie about the robot superhero. At first, I was endlessly frustrated at not knowing the time or not being able to check my email. There were no phone calls to Mom about my day, nor were there texts to my friends about lunch.
The first few days, I still carried it around. It was almost as if I was hoping that it would start ringing or bring up a notification. Even when I knew the phone wouldn't show me anything new, I pulled out my phone simply to distract me. Cell phones often become a social crutch for awkward situations. Don't want to talk to the other person in the elevator? Pretend to be calling your mom. Don't want to make weird eye contact in the dining hall? Scroll through Instagram. Don't want to look like a loser when you try to point out the typo in your menu? Send a quick Snapchat of it to your BFF. Don't want to notice your ex walking toward you? Text your new bae and laugh at the cute emojis he sent.
It wasn't until Thursday or Friday, when I embraced not having a working phone, that I was able to laugh at myself over it. Without the phone, I was forced to recognize the usual awkward moments of my day, and accept that they were happening. Through recognition, you must make the conscious option to go with the embarrassment and embrace it, or realize how mundane it is or even prevent it from occurring. Without your phone, you are forced to be in the moment. Your friends may be distracted watching gifs of baby pandas, but you instead must find conversation or risk sitting there in silence with nothing to do. Without your phone, you can expect to notice more things. People are complex beings, and often subconscious or hidden motives get lost behind the wall of cell phones. However, without the distraction, there is no reason not to devote your full attention to those who are right there in person with you.
Sure it can be frustrating to not be able to call your friends up at the drop of a hat, but there are so many missed opportunities when you're being distracted by the going-ons of friends everywhere but there. Real conversations are happening with real people right beyond the screen. Adventure awaits and memories are there to be made, but if you get stuck trying to keep up with the newest viral video and its spinoffs, you're going to miss the boat. There are few good stories that begin with, "This one time I was scrolling through Twitter..." but there are an endless number of opportunities right there for the taking.
