I dare you to spend one entire day without the form of technology you use most.

Or, if not all day, at least half of the day.

I know, how ironic is this, being posted right after my post about the iPhone 4S, but still, hear me out.

I took this little vacation from technology on Friday, Sept. 30.  I decided I had enough of my cell phone, of people texting, of checking e-mails, I was just tired of it.  I was tired of feeling like I had to be constantly connected to it, to someone, and always answering to someone. So, I turned it off.

Can I just tell you for one minute how positively, absolutely freeing it was?

It was turned off from about 1p-8p, for a grand total of about 7 hours. Okay, okay, I realize this isn’t even half of the day, but it seemed like it! And, I honestly could have gone longer, if I just didn’t get bored and look for some company… I digress!

The feeling of not having my cell phone (which I love dearly!) on me at all times, not even when I walked to dinner with my roommate, was such a free feeling… something I haven’t experienced in quite some time.  I was able to carry on a real conversation with my roommate without stopping to text, or check for e-mails, or even just check the time.  I didn’t have people competing for my attention, I was able to focus on one thing, one person, at a time.  I was able to watch a movie with no interruptions, and even take a nap without hearing that little vibration!

That also meant, though, that I had nothing to hide behind.  When I was waiting in line to order my food, I wasn’t able to look at my cell phone like I was doing something worth while, rather than just looking around or looking at the menu.  When my roommate left and I was sitting outside at a table eating my dinner, I didn’t have that cell phone to poke around with, scan Twitter, send texts, or call someone when I was eating by myself.  I was forced to enjoy being outside, enjoy the scenery, enjoy nature, and simply enjoy the moment.

Cell phones are great, and I don’t even remember the last time I turned mine off… not even when I go to the movies!  I always think, what if there’s an emergency?  What if something important happens that I need to be reached right away?  What if, what if, what if.  Well, I set those aside for a few hours and just let myself do what I wanted to do, on my terms, no distractions.  I highly recommend it.  You may be surprised to realize how tied down to your cell phone you become without realizing it.  You may be brought back to the days before cell phones and have a real face-to-face conversation with someone.  You may be forced to interact with people you normally wouldn’t.  One thing is for sure, and that’s the fact that you will definitely be forced outside of your comfort zone, but you’ll never know what that is and where it may lead if you don’t at least try.