No Phone. Now What?
by Jasmine Harris
Rather it be the search engine in charge of finding the closest happy hour or the app used to meet your nightly plaything; phones, tablets and laptops are the skeleton keys to our world. Think about it, when’s the last time you didn’t reach for your phone or laptop for longer than twenty minutes. Attempting to finish this sentence I’ve been distracted and stopped to look at my phone twice. Before these uncharted times of social distancing how much of your time didn’t involve a blue glare reflecting back at you?
Great lessons come from unbelievable stories with uneventful beginnings. Mine started in the LES. Those familiar with the traffic by the Williamsburg Bridge could guess where this story is headed. Crossing the street and attempting to shepherd my ladies to our Uber pickup, the greatest tragedy of this generation was about to occur. Once I reached the other side of the street the weight of my pocket seemed off; my skeleton key was missing. I had time to re-trace my steps with hopes of finding it cracked, at best. Sadly, I spot it just in time to watch my screen emit its final blue glow. Tipsy and emotional (without phone insurance) only one reaction was warranted: After my temper tantrum reduced to a pout I hopped in the Uber and began my Thirty-Seven-day excursion without a phone.
Technology disguises the illusion of productivity as initiative. For some it's’ merely the cost of comfort. In the days of smart-everything how does one avoid being excluded from everything? The first 24 hours sans phone can determine your perception along this journey; en route equally crafting both optimistic and pessimistic views. The following day I end up in Brooklyn and I’m presented with my first challenge. In an ‘’ L train adjacent’’ neighborhood it shouldn’t be too hard to find a bar with a bartender (as opposed to a mixologist) right? A good rule of thumb is to have faith in the universe to provide (if you ask or not). A cash only bar was about two blocks away complete with a bartender, on what happened to be karaoke night.
Finally singing as Scary Spice was thrilling but without a post, did it really happen? There’s a difference between a night full of post worthy moments and nights where memories are made. Whether it be your surroundings or Snapchat, where you focus your emotions is what your narrative is built around. While there are obvious negatives to a phoneless lifestyle, there’s a window of wisdom only open during periods of limitation. The philosophy of living in the moment I found is this “strong memories come from strong emotions.” Through returning to normalcy was inevitable, living in the moment helped me find a deeper appreciation for those who always found a way to reach me. Stay curious!