I went out with a friend the other day and while waiting for our food, I sat back and looked around taking in my surrounding and…
I noticed two girls with colored extensions sitting in the corner, a couple I suspect were on a date, a girl standing close to the entrance, but what really caught my eye was the table beside mine. It sat about 7 people. 4 girls and 3boys if my memory serves me well all bent downwards staring into their phones. Same with the other people I had noticed. The food they ordered was left on the table untouched. They were all engrossed with whatever they were looking at on their phones barely talking to each other ocassionally raising up their heads to show the other person a picture (I suspect) and all I could do was shake my heading repeating the words no, no, no this isn’t right.
And so I began to wonder. Have we totally lost it. Our sense of appreciation for the little things like time and friendship, healthy one on one conversations, enjoying the company of another or taking in the sights and sounds around us. Or do we simply lack basic etiquette.
I used to be guilty of this but I’ve learnt to ‘look up more’, read a book, watch a movie, have real conversations and not just virtual ones, learning to connect with things that really matter.
Being present has a great effect on the people we are with. It shows we want to be there, spending time with them. Let’s not get carried away by our phones and social media.
They will be there when we are done having real time conversations.
So here’s to the no phone zone…
I’m terribly terrible. I ping and drive.
No no no. Texting and driving is a no no. Please stop it.
Pls help me tell her…I got tired of complaining…
This is bad. I use to be guilty of this but was able to quit slowly the day I made a resolution to leave twitter
Twitter had me for a while…thank goodness that phase is over.
I can totally relate to this. Used to be guilty of it before but I made it a conscious effort to stop and its been working so far. I usually turn off my internet when I’m out so I don’t get tempted to peek at a notification and delve into it. Sometimes we get so caught up with our phones/tabs that we forget to actually live in the moment. Nice piece Grace and cheers to the no phone zone.????
evitaspeaks.blogspot.com
Sadly I havent gotten to the turning off my data level but when I’m out, I pay more attention to the person or people and my environment.
Happy birthday in advance love.
Oh this is totally me. It started out innocently but now I don’t know again. I try to look up, I am trying to look up. I want to look up. I will look up more. thank you for sharing this.
http://www.dleonalife.blogspot.com
At least you are making an effort. well done.
It’s hard to keep your phone down, especially now with Snapchat *rolls eyes* but I’m thinking that Cakes and I should go on a Phone-less date. Or have a technology freeze one evening at home.
Berry Dakara Blog
I know right. Recently joined snap chat and oh my… you and cakes def should. Thanks for reading…
Only when our batteries run out do we really look up. Otherwise, we’ll even chat with the person sitting right next to us. I need help!
I ve got a boss who appreciates online, real time responses and I am talking about till the wee hours of the morning.
#glassraisedtoanophonezoneweekend
Sadly that is what I notice anytime I am out with my friends, I mean, can we not have intelligent conversations? Even one time I was on a date and the nigga was on his phone throughout! Needless to say that was my last time out with him. I am sometimes guilty too but that’s when I have no one to talk to. Very hard to curb it though with how interesting things get on the social media these days. LOL.
wumituase.wordpress.com
Hi Grace,
We’ve become lost in the world of social media, we reach for our phones first thing when we wake up and it’s the last thing we see before sleeping . I am guilty of doing this.
There was a time that I’d get so nervous if my phone battery died and I had no means of charging it immediately. Lol
This post is a wake-up call, there’s life outside the little screen in my palm and I need to live it more. Thank you for the reminder!
Have a super weekend.
Oh yes we have and it’s so sad…
And arent we all guilty in a way!? But these days I’m talking more & laughing even more. I’m tired of these phone “what’s up” conversations. So cheers to the no phone zone
Toyinwithfashion.com
There’s so much to take in. All we need do is “look up”
When I go out with someone and they’re busy looking through their phones, I just want to say ’emm… you don’t have to be here if you don’t want to. Why don’t you just take yourself and your phone out of my presence and stop being a total nuisance?’
this fone issue is turning into a disease for real . thanks for this. hugsssssss
I used to do this around people I didn’t know well, cos I can be shy sometimes. But how would I get to know new people with my nose in my screen? I’m much better now, and I’ll be the one going “ughhh get off your phone!” when I’m with friends and fam. Great post.
Naija girl next door
This is an on point post, Grace. It’s so true how we’ve let these things into our head. Thanks for writing about this. #Lookupmore. Lol
#wakeupcall This is so true…