By Foteini Lioliou,
One of the most memorable experiences I can recall from my childhood is a visit to a coffee shop that had one of the most breathtaking views I had ever seen. I vividly remember my parents ordering coffee and me ordering something to drink, too. Yet before the waiter left with our orders, I politely asked them for the Wi-Fi password. Their answer was not at all expected.
“Put your phone down and look at the view”, they replied. Their response made me feel both shocked and confused. I looked them in the eyes and that is when they added that the letters should all be capitalized. When my parents and I realized what they had just said, we started laughing because we thought it was a really brilliant and humorous idea to use that sentence as a Wi-Fi password.
This experience was totally unforgettable and it made me think about the concept of leaving your phone aside and paying attention to not only the view but also to the people that you are surrounded with. Unfortunately, most people tend to ask for an Internet connection when they visit a new place for the very first time. This proves that they plan on using their phones most of the time and thus avoid escaping their virtual reality. Nevertheless, going out means exactly the opposite. It means that you are willing to socially interact with other people or spend some quality time with yourself. Especially when you make plans with your family or friends, the last thing that you should do is constantly be on your phone.
If you spend all of your time scrolling through social media and paying attention to people’s lives, then you forget that you have a life of your own. Not to mention that when you ignore your parents or friends, you become impolite and disrespectful. To put it simply, you are behaving as if the people you are surrounded with, are less important than your mobile and your social media profile.
Another significant thing that needs to be discussed is that being on your phone can be truly disastrous. First of all, it can cause damage to your eyesight and make you wear glasses for the rest of your life. Second of all, it can create anxiety and addiction problems eventually. Moreover, you can get in trouble for not paying attention to your partner who is desperately trying to engage in conversation with you and share his or her worries and feelings. But, you can also get fired for being on your cell phone while you are supposed to be working.
Therefore, it is imperative to have self-control and use cell phones in moderation. In other words, it is crucial to make an attempt to reduce your screen time and concentrate more on your daily life. If you cannot focus on anything but your phone, that means you cannot control yourself and not live your life freely and happily. The less time you spend on your virtual life, the more time you spend on your real life. Your real life with real people and real relationships will provide you with real happiness. You must put your phone down and look at the people around you. Try to have a conversation with them, laugh with them, and make memories with them. These people are the ones that will bring joy to your life and the ones that you will cherish forever.
Next time you are thinking of visiting a place and asking for the Wi-Fi password, please remember to “put your phone down and enjoy the view”.
References
- Friend or phone. medium.com. Available here
- ‘Phubbing’ Is Hurting Your Relationships. Here’s What It Is. time.com. Available here
