Mortimer George Creations

Yesterday I did the unthinkable. I purposely went to lunch without my Smartphone and I’m still alive to write about it.

According to my calculations, I have gone 7 years 4 months and 1 day of toting my holstered Smartphone wherever I go without a miss.  I’m talking the gym, grocery store, church, beach, Hawaii, Costa Rica, the Bahamas, the toilet…you name it…everywhere!  The last time I didn’t have my phone was the result of an accident.  I remember speeding on the highway to attend an early morning meeting when I reached for my holster.  It was empty!  I veered off the next exit and like a Los Angeles high-speed chase, I frantically drove back home to retrieve my baby.  I ignored the morning meeting because I knew there could be no meeting without my Smartphone.  I sit in meeting where everyone is on their SmartPhone or iPad during the conversation or presentation.  It amazes me that we can all answer a specific question even though it appears we are lost in whatever we’re looking at on our baby’s.  But that’s neither here or there, this is about abandoning my SmartPhone…on purpose.

As I walked down the stairs from my office I started to feel this panicky post acute withdrawal syndrome feeling, a dysphoric mood so to speak.  I hadn’t walked down those stairs without gazing online on my phone at the same time, ever.  It amazes me that several people on phones walking the staircase never seem to skip a beat and trip.  It’s like music.  My heart was racing at this point because I had nothing to do in the stairwell but walk.  Or worse yet, I had to look people in the eye and say, “hi”.

As I sat under the canopy at the outdoor deli with my chicken wrap I wondered what I missed.  Was there an issue that I was unable to address?  Did someone call me?  Is my daughter ok because maybe there was an emergency at her school. How many emails and texts have gone unread?  What’s going on in Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter world?  Oh great, I can’t check-in and post a beautiful instagrammed photo of my chicken wrap. Basically, I was a mess!

Until I heard something I hadn’t heard in quite some time.  The sound went like this, “chirp”. It was the beautiful sound of a yellow bird that perched in the tree next to my table.  I thought, maybe I can take a picture of it and Google the bird and figure out what type it is, but wait…no Smartphone.  The bird said, “chirp” again. I stared at the bird because it stared at me.  I had invaded its space and it showed no fear in my presence or constant gaze. I acknowledged its beauty.  At about this time I said, “hey” to one of my co-workers who walked by.  He appeared startled as he carried lunch in one hand and his Smartphone in the other. I laughed to myself.

When was the last time you out-smarted your Smartphone?