How To Break Up With Your Phone by Catherine Price
How to Break Up With Your Phone by Catherine Price “An Open Letter To My Phone”
Dear Phone,
I still remember the first time we met. You were an expensive new gadget available only through AT&T; I was a person who could recite her best friends’ phone numbers from memory. When you were launched, I’ll admit that your touch screen caught my eye. But I was too busy trying to type a message on my flip phone to start something new.
Then I held you in my hand, and things started moving fast. It wasn’t long before we were doing everything together, taking walks, having lunch with friends, going on vacations. At first, it seemed strange that you wanted to come with me to the bathroom- but today it’s just another formerly private moment for us to share.
We’re inseparable now, you and I. You’re the last thing I touch before I go to bed and the first thing I reach for in the morning. You remember my doctors’ appointments, my shopping lists, and my anniversary. You provide GIFs and festive emoji that I can send to friends on their birthdays so that rather than feeling hurt that I’m texting instead of calling, they think “Ook, animated balloons!” You made it possible for my avoidance strategies to be construed as thoughtfulness, and for that I am grateful.
Phone, you are amazing. I mean that literally- not only do you allow me to travel across time and space, but I am amazed by how many nights I’ve stayed up three hours past my bedtime staring at your screen. I can’t count the times we’ve gone to bed together and I’ve had to pinch myself to see if I’m dreaming- and believe me, something seems to be messing with my sleep. I cannot believe all of the gifts you’ve given me, even though many of those gifts are technically things that I bought for myself online while you and I were relaxing in a bath.
Thanks to you, I never need to worry about being alone. Any time I’m anxious or upset, you offer a game or newsfeed or viral panda video to distract me from my feelings. And how about boredom? Just a few years ago, I’d often find myself with no way to pass the time other to daydream or maybe think. There were even times when I’d get into the elevator at the office and have nothing to look at but the other passengers. For six floors.
These days, I can’t even remember the last time I was bored. Then again, I can’t remember a lot of things. Like, for example, the last time my friends and I made it through a meal without anyone pulling out a phone. Or how it felt to be able to read an entire magazine article in one sitting. Or what I said in the paragraph above this one. Or whose text I was looking at right before I walked into that pole.
Or whatever. My point is, I feel like I can’t live without you.
And that’s why it’s so hard for me to tell you that we need to break up.
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Here, I am assuming that Price is referring to the fact that the iPhone had an initial launch with AT&T. I, too, was willing to forgo my cell phone service at the time in order to make the switch to AT&T.
In retrospect, it seems like that was such a silly move — breaking contracts, paying extra fees — for something that, over time, has become ubiquitous.
The amount of money that we spend on tech is another part of this relationship we need to interrogate.
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I found myself on my phone a lot at this conference, not during the day but at night. I went to dinner by myself. I don’t usually do that. The hotel was crowded but I didn’t feel comfortable so I pulled out my phone. I actually stopped myself though after awhile, and looked down the way and someone else was alone. We ended up talking for quite awhile. I thought about this book when I got back to my room.
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Like you, Janet, I have had similar experiences, even more so recently as I have begun to use wireless ear buds to listen to podcasts and music while exercising or when I am out and about.
Sometimes I will intentionally force myself to put my device(s) away with the intent to connect; sometimes, I will consciously (and conspicuously) take it out with the intent to be (or stay) disconnected.
It is good to know that you made the choice to connect and — as you noted — enjoyed the conversation!
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