One weekend I dropped my dog off to the groomers and had to write my father’s cell number down as a pickup contact. For a brief moment, I forgot his number. I couldn’t remember it off the top of my head. I’d left my phone in my car and was baffled I couldn’t remember his number. Frustrated even. I’m a smart young woman and I couldn’t remember my father’s own phone number? And at that moment, I realized how much impact smartphones have made on almost all of us. I don’t believe smartphones are horrible, but I don’t like that I forgot my father’s number. I also don’t like when smartphones interrupt moments when I’m hanging out with someone, and whoever I’m with begins scrolling through their phone when we’re trying to spend time together or when someone begins updating their “status” and taking a ton of pics and telling the internet about how much fun we’re having vs. being present and in the moment. It makes me feel like I’m not important to the person I’m trying to spend time with. Believe it or not, there was once a time when smartphones didn’t exist. The world seemed like a more peaceful, patient, understanding, energetic, and productive place. People were more mindful, and healthy. More intentional. More focused. Now? Things are fast-paced, there’s more news coming from all kinds of directions, overwhelming amounts of oversharing, way too many heightened emotions, an abundance of rage, hate, lack of intelligence, diminishing sensitivity, and unbelievable amounts of impatience and disrespect. Over the past year, I’ve grown more and more detached from my smartphone and other devices. My detachment has been very intentional because I know being consumed with a device meant to be a tool isn’t healthy or good for me, my spiritual well-being, or anyone else’s for that matter. The decision to pull back has increased my mindfulness, made me more productive with my time, helped deepen my relationship with God, and continually prompted me to focus on myself and the areas of my life I’d like to change, enhance, and improve in. In my daily work life, I’m on the phone and computer all day and by the time I’m off work, I don’t want to be on a phone or scrolling through another screen. I also try to keep a healthy boundary with my laptop, which can be tough at times since I’m a writer and blogger. But I manage. A world without smartphones would be an adjustment for sure, but what an interesting utopia it would be.