You’re out at dinner with one of your friends. You can hear your stomach rumbling as you impatiently wait for your food. All of sudden you remember something important you need to tell them, but they are staring lifelessly down at their phone. In between text-messages they give you a little head nod, a one-word answer or maybe even no response at all.

A part of you wants to be patient, but the other part of you wants to grab their phone and chuck it out the nearest window.

Perhaps they are suffering from FOMO, fear of missing out, while watching Snapchats of some party they didn’t get to go to or maybe they are scrolling through their Twitter feed or even getting ready to send a novel to Jake who hasn’t replied since last week.

The point is, if you're staring down at your phone, in a way, you are telling the person in front of you that they are less important.

Obviously, there are instances where you are around people and need to use your phone right away. For instance, you need to: answer a call, send an email, or reply to a text quickly. I understand that situation completely. However, something that I don't understand is instances where people are surrounded by their best friends, yet haven't taken their eyes off their cell phone screen.

This is something a majority of us are guilty of at some point. Unfortunately, I know that I have been guilty of it too.

In today’s world, we have forgotten how to let ourselves feel uncomfortable, get bored and live in the moment.

When you’re little you eventually give up your baby blanket, your pacifier and maybe even your favorite teddy bear.

However, phones are that security blanket you never have to let go of. Instead, you can literally fill an awkward silence by staring at your phone and tweeting about how bored you are instead of actually doing something to change it.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that we all need to throw away our phones because that would be unrealistic. Phones, along with social media, are meant to keep us better connected with the people and the world around us. Without phones, we wouldn't be able to stay connected with a lot of people unless we wrote a letter or went to visit them.

All I am trying to say is it that it would be nice to have a conversation with someone without them having their eyes glued to a screen.

People shouldn't be afraid to disconnect for a while.

I promise the stories will still be there, you can like the picture later and maybe Jake will even have a chance to reply by then.