Get Off Your Phone Stupid

I have to laugh at that one, it really is quite the presence now. Myself included, it is my watch, timer, calculator, flashlight, mirror, magnifying glass and notepad. It’s quite practical besides keeping you connected to your family and friends. It comes out for pictures or someone has a funny story to share or recent headlines. It is quite a replacement, if you have been replaced by the phone that sucks. It can phase out conversation, attention, and personal relationships. Kids are growing up with them in their hands, at stores and appointments, to keep them occupied, quiet. No more pacifiers, just handy devices! Hey I know what they can be like, I’ve had to step over mine and pretend they weren’t mine to get through the check out without acknowledging a tantrum over chocolate! You get to take a mini tv with you wherever you go!

I have ridden in my husband’s transport before and the amount of cell phone usage while driving is obscene! Now that it is illegal they hold it down lower, making it even more awkward to use, and more of a distraction. A lot of people don’t even care, sliding through red lights clearly holding their phone to their ear. On our recent trip to New York City, the entire walking population is talking to themselves as they make their way down city streets with ear buds poking out of their heads like an antenna! There really is no turning back now for some, it is the reality. Mindless distraction, geared to suck you in. Two minute videos, dramatic pictures, dirty laundry, and of course buy and sell, recommendations, jobs, it has it all. You don’t have to do too much in person now, and we trained hard for that during the pandemic! I still haven’t seen my own doctor in person since 2020. After a recent bout with the flu, I spent most of my evisit trying to send a picture of my throat to an online doctor.

I can enjoy non people things too I guess. It really is a little sad, to see some of the changes to personal interaction. My momma still calls me and I still call her. I text and almost expect no answer from most people, I know that I don’t walk around with my phone 24/7 either. I do try to limit my endless scrolling, and internet absorption. It can be too much to observe sometimes, seems to border on neglect for others. We all need to play power outage and reconnect, that’s what I did with my kids when the electronics went on for too long. Holster that bad boy and participate in your life and your families lives, before you all fall into the web of loneliness you are creating. You could be one distraction away from missing out on life…