For the first time in two years, I am back at the beach. There have been some things that I have noticed while I am here, primarily about our technology. Just recently, I wrote about going a day without my phone. Here at the beach, I have only taken my phone down to the water with me once. But the number of phones I have seen down there is completely ridiculous. See, I used my phone as a camera to take some photos and vlog, but I noticed that other people were Snapchatting, texting, checking their emails or Facebook and playing games.
I have really enjoyed unplugging myself from all my gadgets. While other people all were looking down at their phone screens under their umbrellas, I preferred to enjoy the water or sit and watch the waves. The whole time I've been here, I've noticed how nice it is not to be on your gadgets 24/7. It is so much easier to enjoy things when you don't have something in your pocket always fighting for your attention. For the most part, I've left my phone and laptop in our hotel room. And it has made my time here so much more relaxing. I don't feel tempted to check my phone at all, I don't hear all the phone notifications about emails, and messages and group texts. And if I can't hear them, they pretty much don't exist.
I've found that not being on my phone as much as I normally would have has made my experience at the beach that much better. One day, my family took a trip to Fort Sumpter in Charleston. I vlogged our boat ride out there, and a little while we were there, and I remember thinking it would be better to just put everything away and look at everything while it is right there in front of me. So eventually I set down my camera and put my phone away, and just looked around.
This vacation has brought me to the realization that as cool our devices are these days, it is important to unplug every once and a while. So much of our lives are all about technology. We are always on our phones, tablets, computers, etc. The question is, how much of all that is too much? Especially when you are in a place for the experience. How are you meant to experience anything happening around you if you're always looking down at your phone?
I've noticed a big difference between when I went a day without a phone back at home, and here on vacation where I haven't really been bringing my phone many places at all. I think a big part of that is in our day to day lives, it is kind of expected that everyone will always be on their phones. But I'm starting to think this should not be the norm. All the things you use your phone for can wait. I challenge you to try going out without your phone once more. But this time try not to think about it as an inconvenience, but as an opportunity to experience more.
