I recently returned home from vacation in the Caribbean…it was everything the Caribbean is and should be; a relaxing, tropical haven to unwind, relax and take time away from the “real world” (ie. Sans the Cellular phone that is more often than not attached to my ear...).
Before I left, Bell Mobility decided to disconnect my cell phone – it’s a long story and I will not bore you with the details, but it has brought me to now, currently without a working phone. This will probably (I can almost guarantee) be the only time in my life I will say a very small thank you, to Bell for their services – or lack there of.
Typically after a holiday or stint away from my beloved iphone, I cannot wait to get back to the daily texting, emailing, calling, etc. This time was different and I am surprised and pleased to say I enjoy the freedom of not being “connected”. Some of you are thinking how stressed out this would make you – unable to be in touch at every minute of the day! Let me assure you – I actually thought I would have this reaction! My dad will support that statement – he used to joke about me having a phone growing out of my head. Like I mentioned I was surprised to enjoy this time without a cell phone; I didn’t have to check it every other minute to see if I missed a text or a call, no interruptions while writing, driving, or enjoying other daily activities. (The worst was bringing my phone to the gym – definitely gave that up a while ago – I would recommend it!)
No cell phone = freedom.
Why are we so attached to our technology, our little devises? Can we find more freedom if we give them up?
Now – to set the record straight, I am not blind to the fact that we live in a society that is very comfortable and dependent on these “devises” – especially for those of us in the business world…BUT what if….even for one day, we did not have our phones? Do we have the ability to tune out from the external distractions?
If so, does it more easily enable us to tune into the internal? Into our own bodies, minds, dreams, and arguably our LIFE?!
As I write this post I will let you know that I am still without a phone. It actually feels very liberating, but more importantly it was the reaction I received to my lack of phone connection that triggered the idea for this post.
“Why don’t you have a phone? When are you getting your phone back, this is weird! Get a phone already? You know, you really should get your phone back so you can be in touch.”
Haha, the fact that I was without a phone actually stressed other people out more! It was a very funny realization. Three days ago I was hanging out at the yoga studio in Waterloo when a girl came in and the first thing she said to us was “I think I left my cell phone at home today – I don’t know how I feel about that”. So interesting. How would you feel?
Being completely content without a phone this last week has changed the way I feel about my connection to “THE WORLD”. I can survive some days without one. I am already getting more accomplished because I am not checking it every five seconds.
So I conclude the following:
I will be activating my phone probably in the next week or so (for emergency purposes – and not to mention my boyfriend is in Afghanistan and I have an obligation to be available for him. He’s been bugging me about not having a phone), but I will be scheduling “no phone” days. Or at least turning my phone off for a few hours per day to tune out and zero in to be completely connected with what I am working on or experiencing.
Do cell phones take us away from really being “present” to our life as it happens in front of us – not somewhere off in digital land?
How would you feel if you didn’t have a phone for a day, a week, a month?
TRY IT!!
The secret of happiness you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less. - Socrates
Love, Ashley
