The other day, I ran straight into a brick wall because I was perusing Pinterest, and let me tell you, that bruise on my face was not worth a couple Pinterest cupcake recipes.This for me, was a rude awakening. And it hurt like hell – literally.

If you just take a moment to look around, it becomes very apparent that most people are on their phones. Sure, this is fine most of the time, but it is starting to consume people’s lives.

Observing, you see groups of supposed “friends” not even talking to each other because they are too self consumed with their latest social media post. What happened to being able to hang out with friends without having the constant need to scroll through Instagram? All in all, we are victims of this vicious technology vortex.

That same day, I hung out with my friend from another dorm. I ran over with excitement because I went home last weekend to see my niece Lorelei and I wanted to spend the hour gushing about how adorable she is.

The entire time I was talking, my friend was scrolling through Facebook. Now, I know that my story about Lorelei organizing her toys may not have been the most entertaining, but I find it incredibly heartbreaking not be listened to. I want all the attention on me, which sounds a little self-absorbed, but after bruising my face, I felt as if I deserved it.

I bet anyone reading this is guilty of being that annoying friend at one time or another. We don’t even seem to think about it anymore; it is never intentional. We just whip out our phones without a tinge of doubt, as if it’s the current social norm to be insanely rude to your peers.

I think it is about time we make it completely unacceptable. So right then and there I vowed not to be that phone obsessed weirdo ever again, and to become fully present.

I went out with my friends and I left my phone at home. And let me say that you never really realize how much you use it until it isn’t in your hands 24/7.

I found out quickly that you just have to embrace those socially awkward situations when you don’t have your phone to save you.

I was abandoned with some guy that I barely knew, and instead of pretending like I had a phone call from my mom, or a text from a friend, I just stared at him which made him insanely uncomfortable. But that’s okay, because that’s what college is about sometimes.

Situations are only awkward if you perceive them that way. Either way you’ll most likely get a funny story out of it.

Learning how to cope without your phone as a defense mechanism is a good life skill.

All in all, not having my phone really made me focus on what I was doing in the present. I enjoyed the moment with no interruption. It’s just a phone. It’s not your whole life.