Everyone walking down Boylston Street is looking at their hand. Or, actually, their phone. Their heads are bowed down, like they're praying, but they are not. This is a busy street. Look up. This is a beautiful and historical street. Look up. I have learned to look up. I once almost accidentally walked past one of my favorite ex-coworkers in February because I was captured by the alluring sun setting on upper Boylston and she didn't get my attention until she started dancing and screaming in front of me. It was funny enough I hadn't noticed her at first (she's a gorgeous girl with bright red hair), but if I had been invested on my phone in the middle of a busy street I would have been deadly embarrassed for not noticing her.
As a teen (as if I'm some shriveled up old person) I would always have a camera glued to my hand. Now I just have my iPhone glued to my hand. I try not to use my phone often. I likely only use my phone in front of people I don't know at all or people I know extremely well. I'll use it as a crutch in an awkward situation and even then I usually defend myself using my phone by saying something like, "Just reading the news! Who wants to hear what Donald Trump said today?!" I have never been the person who feels the need to defend themselves, and I rarely justify any decision I make, but when it comes to my phone I feel like I need to write a 15-page essay describing why I need it, why I use it, and the purpose it has in my life. People my age already have a bad reputation for existing and I don't want anyone to think ill of me if I'm constantly on my phone. I was never this connected to my phone when I was in high school, so why am I just developing a bad habit?
I never scroll through my phone while walking down a street or around campus because I don't want to walk past something I've never seen before. That might sound as shallow as mindlessly scrolling while walking, but I don't want to miss out. I don't want to miss anything. Life has so many beauties and new things to offer me. When I'm riding the train, I bring a book (and can likely read half of it. I like to think I'm using my time wisely by reading on long rides). I love going out to eat or for drinks, but I hate looking down and seeing everyone's phone face down on the table because then I feel like I have to put my phone on the table to be able to Snapchat the next food or drink experience.
We lived a different life twenty, even only ten years ago. Our grandparents, even parents lived a totally different life than us. People five years older than me had a completely different childhood than me. I'm horrible at responding to text messages. I promise I'm not playing hard to get or ignoring you. I'm likely at one of my jobs, watching Netflix, or reading about a space discovery (on my phone).