Can I give up my mobile for a day? I wonder. I can't even imagine my life without a mobile
today, even though there are many who may not agree. I know that there are strong and disciplined people out there who detox occasionally from mobile but
I am not ready to admit I need that. Staying connected to people is life itself for me. I can't imagine a day
without my fingers not tapping, swiping or watching flickering pictures and staying
connected. I know the world is not going to end if I put that mobile away nor
are my friends going to go away either.
I am great at multitasking and creative
thinking so what if I cut paste a wrong message to someone it was not meant
for sometimes. So what if I hit auto text turning "dear" into "dead"...or
"yoga" into "yoda"..and the one worst that I fear "peace"
and not "pieces" (you know, the rest in peace one..I check this a 100%
times over). In
the morning, along with that cup of tea it's the newspaper and the mobile for
me. Reading through whatsapp, facebook and the newspaper to check what happened
before I woke up (well, it is another fact that I get up very late these days..retired
you see!!!). So what if the very next thing I do is to clear the chat of all those annoying good mornings, picture notifications
and that one same message that pops up in each and every group like a tsunami
on a particular day.... Okay, I do know it is a nice way to start a morning by
wishing each other and I do appreciate your love, but no one needs a beep beep 365
days a year especially me, at unearthly hours. You are awake my friend, but my
morning has not yet begun so then don't blame me for putting you on silent mode.
Silent mode, indeed!!! ........ there I go checking whether you have wished me that
morning. I don't want it to beep, I want it to beep, totally confused me.
You know what's funny. Let me tell you what makes me feel more
sane than most mobile addicts. I don't text my family sitting in the same room or in the
next room even if we are on the same group. Now that's what I call real crazy. So
what if I use a missed call to my daughter, as a signal to come to my room. Now,
that I think is an intelligent use of the mobile instead of shouting, is it not?
You may wonder what is it that I am missing
out on by using my mobile consistently. You must also be thinking that I definitely
need to be doing something else instead? That is never an issue with me. I work
from home but get around a lot too doing crazy and fun stuff, in fact quite a
lot than most people.....and when I am out the internet package is off because
funny as it may sound, I just never seem to need it when I am with friends or
out. I simply inform those I need to stay connected to during that day via sms
that I am off whatsapp, etc. Simple but effective way to break away from face book
and whatsapp because I become a photographer and need my mobile to stay alive
through the day as I go click click. It's another story that once I am home,
there I go posting all those photos on social media. As
corny as it sounds, I want to be able to watch a show without feeling the need
to share a photo but then I am a pro at doing just that without looking at the
screen. I know I will have that one picture of the many I went click click
click looking over the mobile. Yes, I am a notorious shutterbug strong desire to capture every moment and memory.
I love my sleep too, so switching off the
internet connection the moment it is bedtime and that means the internet
package of my mobile too is a done deal. Of course not the mobile calls, after
all who knows who might need to call you.
Besides I am also not one of those who
think the theatre hall is the personal hall of my home. Yes, I do get up and
tick off those using the mobiles in the theatre. Silent mode indeed, but what about that
annoying light that flickers in the darkness. Not to mention my counterparts
who discuss menus with their cooks mid-movie or those who love to text or talk
especially during a song sequence...Hello, I want to watch that song you know
and I don't need additional disco lights from your mobile to enjoy it more!!!
I'm a good girl and don't text or talk when I drive even
though you know, I am quite a pro and can do just that. I won't profess not to
have done that before...but with a near disaster once, texting and driving is a
definite no, no and even answering the phone today. My mobile definitely lies now in
my purse hanging behind the driver seat completely inaccessible and away from
temptation. Besides, I am just too much in love with life for that.
I just love mindlessly
opening up applications, scrolling through and connecting with friends. Internet
advises setting realistic limits for oneself of using the applications of not
more than an hour or so in a day (not going to happen!!!) or for not longer
than 15 minutes at a time (hmmmm!!).... Leave my mobile at home, switch off while on holiday. How
stupid would that be in this crazy world where anything happens at anytime.
Maybe I need to break up with my mobile..... even though I think I am doing fine....
My mobile is now my best friend, my love
connection to my family and even more so with friends who I don't meet for
months. Just maybe,
just maybe, I am a mobile addict.......Maybe I do need to detoxify... May be I need to unplug from
the unreal world to the world around me..
...........but then on second
thoughts, I am already enjoying the best of both worlds... content to be on-line
or off-line as I please.
