Do you remember when you were a kid? I remember playing in the yard, riding horses all over the place, and always on the go. I also remember that when I went somewhere with the family nobody had a phone pressed to their ear. There was no “Where is the car charger?”. My parents didn’t hold up a hand in the middle of a conversation to answer the phone. My parents didn’t call or text when driving because frankly, we didn’t have cell phones.
Well, I am taking a step back to the past. I am going back to “then” and have happily given up the “now”. I know you’re probably thinking “What the heck is she thinking? She is stepping back how?” I gave up my cell phone. Yup, I did it. In fact I did it a couple of days ago.
I know, I know you’re asking “WHY?” and holding your hand to the head, face, or heart. Please, don’t look so aghast. It’s a great thing, I think. I mean the circumstances are not so much but the actual act I am finding isn’t bothering me all that much.
You see times have been tight in this household. My partner has had 3 surgeries in the last 11 months, we had to move, and a variety of other issues have arisen so I had to make a choice. Yes, circumstances dictated the killing of the cell phone but in all honesty, I am finding it a blessing rather than a burden.
I don’t have to remember to grab it before I head out the door. If someone says they are going to call me, well, if you don’t reach me at home then I guess you will have to wait until I am home again, won’t you? I don’t worry about social medias interrupting my day unless I am there. No, I don’t tweet while I am out and about because frankly that can wait. Nobody on the roads has to worry about if I am texting and driving. That just isn’t a concern. I watch for other person though.
The road has my full attention. When I am having a conversation in person with someone (my child, a friend, etc..) they have my attention, no texts or anything to interrupt.
Do I miss it? Nope, not one bit. I wonder how many could go without their phone glued to their ear? How many could turn off their phones for one day and take a step into the past, the “way back when…” and go without their cell for one day? Why not try it on a Saturday, a sleepy Sunday, or *gasp* an actual day of the week?
Yes, it was partly because of financial reasons, however, when we get back on our feet do I want another? In all honesty I don’t know. I do know right now I am enjoying a freedom from always being found that I haven’t had in awhile. I have conversations without interruption, I notice the little things out there that I had missed before so I can take a second look without the phone suddenly going off. Those signs that say “turn off your cell while your here”, I can ignore them. I know those are little things but those little things make a difference in somebody’s day.
I always found it rude and annoying when I was working with the public when those people would come in, with their phone pressed to their ear and wanted to make a transaction. I always wondered do they realize how rude that is? How rude is it of me to interrupt them while I was trying to complete the transaction? Well, frankly it’s not rude of the person trying to do the job. And now I am not one of those people. They have my undivided attention.
I hope you see where I am going and what I am getting at. And even if you don’t take the challenge and go without your phone for a day, I wonder if you will change your call habits and make sure to get off the phone when trying to make a transaction in a store, order/pick up food, etc….
Today I sit on my deck, sipping some coffee and enjoying my morning. With a view like this who wants to be interrupted?
My Wanderin' Mind 