In my 21 years of life, I don’t know if I’ve spent many days truly alone. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve definitely isolated myself from society for multiple days in a row to binge watch a Netflix show, and there are days when I run errands or grab meals by myself – especially during the summer. But that’s different from going out and crossing into unchartered territory without the comfort of family, friends or a cell phone in your hand.

For someone who often boasts about her Boston pride, I am painfully aware that living in a suburb means I don’t actually know my way around the city. I can name the significant landmarks and popular attractions, but if you asked me to connect the dots and get you from one place to the next, you’re better off asking Google Maps. Needless to say, this is what makes Boston so exciting each time that I go into the city. I can always find something new to appreciate about it and feel a sense of adventure when I’m really only 15 minutes from my house. I’m lucky.

But most of the time, I’m not alone. We’ll drive in or take the T, walk around and appreciate the summer sunsets or glistening Christmas lights, grab dinner, eat cannoli... and it’s great. With the comfort of my friends beside me (and those who know their way around the city, at that), I can always enjoy our outings.

So you can imagine that when I finally spent an entire day by myself in a city I call home but barely know, it was an adventure. That happened this past week.

I was out of the house by 7:15 a.m., driving in the typical morning rush-hour traffic to a unknown location in Boston. I was helping photograph a school event in the city, and I had been assigned to three different locations throughout the day. Like any major city, Boston is notorious as a horrible place for parking. So the night before, I used some new app to “reserve” a spot in a nearby garage or parking lot – and by that, I mean I had chosen the cheapest possible option: a random parking spot in a residential alleyway.

For the girl who couldn’t even tell you how to get to Fenway Park, you can probably guess how nervous I was that I would never find Public Alleyway 414.

But no worries, I found the parking spot. Step One was officially complete. For the rest of the day, I was on foot throughout the city to take myself to and from each place I needed to take photographs in. The best part was that these locations were anywhere from one to three miles from each other, so I was hustling to each spot and definitely getting my fair share of exercise for the day. By noon, my phone was completely dead (shoutout to Apple for literally programming iPhones to die after two years) and I was out in the city by myself.

See, I think it’s kind of hard to be truly alone when you have a cell phone. That’s why so many of us reach for our phones during any dull moment, awkward situation or waiting period. It’s an extra friend when we’re by ourselves. It's a resource if we're lost and need directions. But it's also a distraction. And not having my phone is what made the rest of my day so great.

The final location was a college gym where I waited for the students to arrive with six faculty members from the school. It was almost ironic, as the one college student in the room (me) was technology-free and every teacher was on his or her phone. I mean, had my phone not died, I would have been doing the exact same thing. But it was funny.

Eventually, the phones no longer served as a remedy to boredom and we started a game of kickball. I was in a random gym in the middle of Boston with a group of people who were almost twice my age and had established careers, and it was one of the most fun moments I can remember. None of us were good at the game, yet it generated countless laughs and a good time.

I retraced my steps and walked the two miles back to my car, fully appreciating the city around me without my phone in hand. I watched a father with his two young daughters at a crosswalk, holding both of their hands as they crossed Boylston Street. When they were about halfway through the street, he said, “Wave and say thank you!” Both of the girls echoed his voice and waved to the car that had let them cross. It was such a trivial moment, and simultaneously so beautiful to witness as I walked by.

I’ve realized how much you can notice when you’re truly alone. I’m frequently glued to my phone or computer because I love staying connected. But my phone’s short battery life has been a blessing in disguise. It forces me to be more present and appreciate what is around me. It gives me time to think about what is important and what I value in each day. Our world begs for social interaction and attention to all of our new technologies, but I'm convinced that sometimes it's nice to pull back from that and truly be alone. I think that's when the best things happen.