I Lost My Phone and Found My Life

I recently went on a trip to Vail Colorado and it was amazing. I was surrounded by incredible people and heard some amazing speakers. I left so energized and refreshed in this season. On our return flight, we had a layover in Denver, Colorado. We were able to grab a bite to eat before heading to our terminal for Tampa. I tend to be an over-packer so I always have my purse along with a jacket and one bag I carry full of shoes. I just do not know what I want to wear until I wake up!

After eating, we quickly headed to our gate and got in line to board. Once seated, I immediately began to search my purse to find my phone and could not find it. I dumped my purse out and it just was not there. I knew we had about 10 minutes before takeoff so I decided to exit the plane and run back to the restaurant to see if I left it laying there. As I sprinted and I mean sprinted I could feel the blisters forming on the back of my heel from my shoes. It was as if I was running for my life, and in a weird kind of way, I was. I was so certain they would have it there and I would rush back to the plane and all would be fine but that is absolutely not what happened. They had not seen it so I quickly ran back to the plane knowing that my phone would be left in Denver.

I can remember the immediate feeling following which was one of extreme sadness like I lost my best friend. I quickly grabbed the book I had packed and for the next three hours, I read and before I knew it, we were landing and I was almost done with the entire book. All I could think about was the fact that I have no phone and I could not communicate with anyone. As the hours went by, I actually started to feel a physical weight come off of me. I woke up the next morning at home, went outside with my dogs, and just sat out there for hours listening to the birds and looking around as if it was my first day visiting this place I called home.

I then greeted my kids as they woke up and we were actually carrying on full, engaging conversations. I was able to work out without seeing anything coming at me that I needed to respond to immediately. I spent the entire weekend around the people I love and was able to be so present and attentive in conversations, surroundings, and most importantly with myself. I felt like I could actually hear from God when I did not have that stupid phone in front of me 24/7. Truth is, I am not surprised at all. I am saddened that I let myself get to the point where I was ok with my phone getting more of me than anyone else in my life and for what?

When I walked into Jackie on Monday, Sharon was so excited to inform me that my phone had been found and was being overnighted to me via FedEx and I would have it on Thursday. I was immediately saddened and honestly a little scared about picking it up again. It had been like a bad drug that constantly left me feeling hungover and gross. I was always upset with the time and energy it stole from me but could never be without it. The box arrived on Thursday and today is Monday. The phone is still in the box in my closet. I am not ready. I want to be in a place that is healthy before I even take it out of the box and begin the vicious cycle again.

I lost my phone but found my life whereas most lose everything because of that stupid little device that runs our world and allows us to go places and do things we never thought possible. It just is not worth that to me anymore. I have been blessed with an amazing husband and children and yet given the opportunity, the phone will steal every bit of our time and energy, and attention away from those we love the most. I plan on continuing this through the end of March and then setting systems and structures going forward for healthy and productive phone use. There is a reason the front of each of our phones is an apple with a bite out of it... just maybe it is the forbidden fruit of the new age.

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