I went downstairs a little while ago to let Lola out and right after I shut the front door I reached down and felt of my front pocket, where I always carry my iPhone. It wasn't there. It was upstairs, on the charger. I was phone-less.
There was a moment of sheer panic. I felt naked and vulnerable. I felt like a balloon not tethered to the mothership, drifting through space, alone, in the darkness... OH WAIT THERE'S MATT DAMON...
LMAO. I digressed...
Now, before you shake your head in utter disgust let me point out something. I am not a phone-aholic. I go for vast stretches of time when I am not looking at my phone. I don't normally look at the phone while I'm walking Lola, or cooking, or writing, or working, or cleaning house, or helping Mother.
I look at it if I get a call or text obviously, but I don't get a ton of calls or texts.
My phone gets the most attention during my rest periods, those times of day usually just after meals when I am in front of the TV. I play Words With Friends as I flip channels. I'm not a big TV watcher.
So I probably spend less than two hours a day looking at my phone.
My son, OTOH, at 19, views his phone like an extension of his body. It's always plugged in. It's always there. Even when he's walking Lola for me, his phone is in his hands and his earbuds are in so he can listen to his "music."
Heavy sigh. I like to be critical of kids today who are rudely ignoring everything while they obsess over their phones but it's not their fault. We have created the monsters.
Today, I felt immediate withdrawal symptoms when I realized I didn't have my phone. I noticed my neighbor's porch light on and I wanted to text her and ask if she knew it was on. My front yard is awash in pine cones and I wanted to call the yard service about getting out here. I wanted to photograph the daffodils. I suddenly wanted to do some math, time my short walk, make notes...
I didn't do any of that.
I did, however, walk down the street and look around much more carefully at my surroundings. I noticed the brilliant blue sky and cottony clouds. I noticed how spring seems to be getting into gear - buds on the azaleas, tiny wild marigolds in my neighbor's yard, lots of birds winging around the pine trees.
I realized my sinus headache was 90% gone.
I thought to myself, on really cold/hot days or when life seems gloomy, I want to remember this gloriously beautiful day. I am not afraid to walk down the street phone-less. I am fully awake and alive and cognizant. I see God's amazing handiwork everywhere, and I feel blessed to live on such a lovely street.
I saw a man walking his baby down the street in her stroller yesterday but he was talking on his phone and paying no attention to his child. I wanted to run grab his expensive phone out of his hand and say LOOK! Look at the beautiful day, and your beautiful baby! This conversation can wait. NOTICE these blessings.
Put your phone down and NOTICE.
