Stream of Consciousness Monday
Taken with my Canon 6D and Canon 24-105mm f/4 Lens
The ocean claimed my phone on Saturday morning. Maybe 12 hours into the vacation that I had waited all summer to document.
It was working one minute, packed away in rice the next. I was frantic, desperate, weepy, furious, resigned, panicked and unsure of exactly what to do.
My phone is my lifeline. Not only do I have all of my social media on my phone, but LITERALLY, my life is on that phone. Apps that hold my passwords, email, banking, notes, list apps, apps that hold my ideas, post ideas, lists for days, to do lists, calendars, text messages, my alarm, photos upon photos upon photos….like I said, my LIFE is on that phone.
But there I was…with a missing limb basically. I couldn’t take photos on the spur of the moment.( which is like breathing to me) I couldn’t check Facebook, or Snapchat or see how many people had liked and commented on my Instagram photos. I couldn’t text, or instant message.
NOTHING.
I was dazed….unsure……
But then I realized that most of the folks I talk to all of the time were with me.
So I talked to Pookah, and CDub ..and my Mom without being tempted to look at my phone or be distracted by a notification.
I remembered that even if it’s not documented, it DID happen.
And then…I read a book. An ENTIRE book. ( The Perfect Find. SO good guys. SO good)
And I picked up my big girl camera.
I sat on the beach with no electronic device in my hand and just breathed in the salty ocean breeze and felt the sand between my toes.
I went to an amazing restaurant, ordered a gorgeous meal and didn’t document it. I ATE it.
I had to wait until I got back to our condo to check Facebook, upload photos to share and make comments on Twitter. And even though I had a work around for Instagram, I couldn’t see in real-time what was happening. I posted a photo and left.
It was….frustrating and liberating at the same time.
It make me stop and wonder…how did I become so dependent on my iPhone. When did it become my lifeline? When did it become so necessary to my lifestyle? When did I begin to NEED it to do simple daily things? Tasks?
When did I start feeling the need to document ALL OF THE THINGS on social media?
I survived this weekend, and my phone is still sitting in a bag of rice, non functional.
But it’s made me reevaluate how DEPENDENT that I THINK I am on my phone.
And how in reality, I’m really not.
Things are getting done, but not in real time.
Life DOES happen, it seems. Even when it’s not documented to death.
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This was a stream of consciousness post. Set your timer for 5 minutes and just write. Then hit publish. Don’t correct it or anything. Just do it.
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I’m at the beach this week with the fam – most of the kids and all of the grands – and I didn’t touch my phone at all yesterday. It was probably the first time I’ve ever not had my phone at my fingertips and it was so liberating. The world didn’t stop turning and I never thought about it as I enjoyed a day of sun and sea with the family.
Having detached days has been one the best things I’ve found. There are times I haven’t a clue where my phone is and I’m perfectly ok until I check and someone is cussin me out for not returning a message lol Sad for your limb but glad you got to enjoy every moment presently.
Sometimes it takes dropping your phone in water and leaving it in rice to really unplug. I think we’re all guilty of staying plugged in for too long. I am trying hard to show my son there is other things in life besides the tablet.
Wow. You sound like me the day that water fell in my phone, blacked out and stopped working. Great day for an accident to have no phone to use to call for help. But thank God I’m still here.
My phone is having issues as well. It only charges with one charger and it is really slow. So because of that I haven’t used it as much the past two weeks and I can’t believe the difference. I just haven’t found the time to spend hours at the phone store getting a new one.
My friends are starting a BBQ business and we went to visit yesterday to do a “tasting” and watch football. At the end of the night we realized we didn’t even take any pictures of the food because we were too busy enjoying it and each other.
I love all of the great friends I’ve come to know online but nothing really beats being in the moment from time to time.
ALSO you’re the third or fourth person I’ve heard talk about the book so I just went on ahead and bought it. (Kindle version. I still book shop for paperbacks in case something runs out of batteries or drops into the ocean, but you can’t beat the ease of click and own.)
Good luck with the replacement! I’m sure you backup often.
It took me forever to appreciate my cell phone and now that I do, it would be hard to disconnect. Except if I’m with family and friends. I’d rather spend time with them more than anything.
Unplugging from electronics is so important. I try to shut off all devices after a certain time each day to make sure I spend enough quality time with my family. Nowadays, the need to be connected all the time is so strong.
Ooh how I love this. What a great reminder to be in the moment and not getting so caught up with our social media channels. I did just that during my retreat in Bali and it was truly blissful.
Ok so first we need you to have your phone back working.
Second, love that you just ate and sat and chat and rad and breathed. I wonder about myself and my phone dependency all the time.
Third, what will you change now that you’ve experienced such “awkward no phone bliss”?
It’s great that something positive came out of that accident! I’m probably too dependent on my devices sometimes too.
We always so we will be fine without it but end up in a panic without it – and feeling helpless. After a few days it is so empowering knowing that you really can do whatever you want without being attached to your phone. Seems so silly but it is real!
Amen. Those moments when I leave my phone on accident I feel so free. I sure hope the rice works.
Living in the moment and in the now … that’s a great way to be. Conscious of your moments … life passes us far too quickly. Loved reading this!
Sorry to hear about the phone, but what a revelation that happened because of it. I pray the rice works, but like MJ said, “What will you do different from here?”
I could feel your loss on your phone. It has been a lifeline. I guess it’s a good thing to reflect on the times we don’t have the phone by our side.
It is amazing how dependent we all have become on our phones. I lost my charging cord, and my husband was out of town with the only one that matched mine. When mom’s phone died everyone freaked when they could not instantly have my attention.
I have my moments when I will just disconnect and I’m okay with that. If I’m forced to do so then I would be so freaking dramatic. OH MY GOSH, like how do I go on. 🙁 I’m so attached to my phone.
I don’t disconnect as much as I should. i have been picking up my phone a lot less lately, but not as much as I should. Its good to disconnect!
Isn’t it funny how our phones have become our lifelines? This is a great reminder to just put them down and simple “be” from time to time.
So true, I really need to work on disconnecting more. Not only for my family, but for myself as well. It really does take away from living in the moment and I know I tend to miss out on more than I’d like to admit.
You’re so right – I’m so scared I might miss something with my phone and it’s ridiculous. I left mine at home when I went to the beach – I already smashed it once this year!
Sounds like you found the lemonade out of the lemon. I’m glad you were able to take it all in. I cannot depend on that phone. I make a point to put it away which is why I don’t have as many pictures of events. There are positives to both sides. I guess it’s about the balance.
It really is amazing how much we do on our phones and how much is stored on there that we depend on. You survived and I bet I would too, but it was an adjustment I am sure. So sorry about your phone in the long run!