I had known for a long time that our smartphone undermines our brain power, but I really did not think it was that bad for me. No bleeps, no icons on the start screen, ... I myself had control and decided myself when I would watch. Nothing could be farther from the truth. #lietome
Although I was no longer "summoned" by that machine, without audible stimuli, the urge to watch was all the greater: "who knows what message I had missed". Postponing when I look ("I look between 17h and 18h") did not work either. Managing a social group with over 500 members, following customers and answering friends took what seemed like forever.
Until the moment when my phone decided to commit suicide. Truth be told, I might have helped him by dropping him in water, but it was not on purpose, Mrs. Judge. Suddenly he fell in! I did everything to help him, the poor drowning man, but after two days of convulsions he decided to give up the struggle. Where’s the panic button?
From one day to the next I was "no longer accessible". And wow, that was frightening. What if something happened? With me? Or with people I love? How soon would I know that? Only then the importance of a network of real people becomes visible: a partner who is willing to accept calls for you, neighbors whom you can turn to, friends whom you can turn to for a real conversation. Then it also becomes clear how quickly we want to communicate something. "Is that really necessary?", I wonder. Is inertia not one of the most beautiful things in life? (you, heretic, you!)
In the meantime I have been smartphone-free for 3 weeks and the changes are wonderful. Soon my love and I will be launching a new project, one that has been haunting my head for a year and a half and that (as it turned out) only needed three days to be realized. If only I had paid more attention to it ...
So, thank you phone, that you decided to put an end to our toxic relationship.