Attack of the Cell Phones!
Resistance is futile!
I chose to disconnect from social media, internet and text messaging on Saturday. I reasoned that it would be easier to ignore digital media because I would physically be interacting with friends and family and too busy to look at my phone. In fact, it turned out to be the opposite and I maybe lasted 5 hours, if I am generous with the timing. Checking my phone later, I found that the same people who I saw on Saturday texted me about the location of the restaurant, parking, appointment time and who had already arrived. We were all attending a surprise birthday party and everyone felt that they needed a minute-by-minute update of the whereabouts of others. During the actual party I did not notice anyone texting. However, phones were used to take pictures and show pictures posted on social media. I felt the strong urge to reach for my phone as well, I myself not wanting to miss the opportunity to capture a memory. Although well intended, the need to put moments on record can become an excuse also. In this era we are too keen on saving memories for tomorrow. As cliche it is to say, for a long time now the truth has been that we do not spend enough time living in the actual moment. I too am guilty of this crime! I only started using a smartphone last year and have already become the very thing I used to scoff at.
I have experimented with the “disconnect” exercise before and found that the best and only solution is to not have a phone or digital device with you at all. This past summer I went on vacation with my family. I was free from impending test dates and upcoming assignments and realized to really be on vacation I also had to be free of social media updates from my friends. Part way through the vacation I decided to leave my phone at the hotel each day of the vacation; we were typically outdoors from morning to evening. It was one of the best decisions I had ever made! I could not check for text messages, I could not receive phone calls and I could not even check the time. Not having a timer on vacation is an added bonus and it was my favorite part of abandoning my phone. It was liberating not knowing what other people back home were doing and knowing that other people did not know what I was doing either. And I did not care.
