Cell Phones Today

​Warning. Rant ahead. 😡
I understand that we live in a world of technology.
We use our phones, lap tops, computers, tablets, notebooks, for work, for family & friends, for school, for personal use.
I use mine, every day ... all day long (or so it seems some days). 
And I get it that games and videos are a big part of "escaping & relaxing" these days. I will admit that I play a game on my phone. Solitaire. Ever so often, for a few minutes at a time - usually when I just cannot go to sleep at night no matter what I do. 

HOWEVER, many have gotten addicted (yes, addicted) to the technology and cannot lay them down and walk away from them to do anything else, or to have a CONVERSATION. 
How much life & living is being lost to the world of video games, YouTube videos, or Facebook? 
How long has it been since you ate a meal at the table, and actually looked at the one(s) sitting there with you? I get it, real people are not as entertaining and engaging as the virtual ones are - but they are REAL. 
How long has it been since you ate a meal without picking up your phone during the time of breaking bread? My opinion? That should be a hard & fast rule in any home, or in any restaurant. Leave the phones alone! I watch people that use their phones while they eat ... and we wonder why we have digestive problems, why we don't "connect" with the real world, why we are over weight and out of shape, why the food doesn't taste as good as it used to ... sigh. 
How long has it been since you took a long walk, enjoyed nature, exploring a bit, without using your phone for GPS, or listening to music, or even for simply taking pictures? Nothing wrong with using a GPS, but nothing wrong with getting a little lost in nature either. Nothing wrong with listening to music - but have you heard the music of nature? The rustling of leaves in the wind, the singing of the birds, the bubbling of the creeks, and so much more!

Taken from medical reports: 
(1)When a person gets addicted to their phone, he/she withdraws from social activities, reduces their food intake, and is unable to think positively. Some people think their cell phone is their friend.
(2) An addiction is when the thing you are addicted to begins to control your life and interferes with your daily activities, work, school, home responsibilities and relationships.
(3) When you are with a real life person sharing a conversation, a meal, or a cup of coffee, do you check your text messages? Facebook? This real person has taken time out of their life to be with you, and share real life time with you. By turning your attention away from them you are saying “You are not as important.” It’s a sickness that we are so addicted to our phones that we ignore the people we are with to hang out with virtual people over Facebook, Twitter, and text messages.
(4) You cannot go for 5 minutes without checking your phone. It’s the first thing you check in the morning and the last at night, and dominates most of your activities in-between.
(5) Cell phone addiction causes headaches, vision problems, a break from reality, digestive issues, increases the pain of arthritis, interrupts the natural sleep patterns. Destroys friendships and family relationships. 

Apart from work, I like being in touch with family & friends.
For the most part, I enjoy Facebook. Even tho I have considered many times deleting my account. 
Love my website & genealogy. I find myself wishing I could spend more time on both, but I don't. 
I use my devices for news & weather.
But to lay it all down, spend time with someone, have real conversation, go for a long walk or drive in country, or any other REAL LIFE interaction?
​In a New York minute & not take my Texas time to do it!

Are you a smartphone junkie? 
This is a scientific test, developed & used by the medical community to help treat those who are addicted to their cell phones.
Rate each item on a scale of 1 (“completely disagree”) to 7 (“strongly agree”) 
and tally up your total score to find out. 
Be honest!

1. I would feel uncomfortable without constant access to information through my smartphone.

2. I would be annoyed if I could not look information up on my smartphone when I wanted to do so.

3. Being unable to get the news (e.g., happenings, weather, etc.) on my smartphone would make me nervous.

4. I would be annoyed if I could not use my smartphone and/or its capabilities when I wanted to do so.

5. Running out of battery in my smartphone would scare me.

6. If I were to run out of credits or hit my monthly data limit, I would panic.

7. If I did not have a data signal or could not connect to Wi-Fi, then I would constantly check to see if I had a signal or could find a Wi-Fi network.

8. If I could not use my smartphone, I would be afraid of getting stranded somewhere.

9. If I could not check my smartphone for a while, I would feel a desire to check it.

If I did not have my smartphone with me ...

10. I would feel anxious because I could not instantly communicate with my family and/or friends.

11. I would be worried because my family and/or friends could not reach me.

12. I would feel nervous because I would not be able to receive text messages and calls.

13. I would be anxious because I could not keep in touch with my family and/or friends.

14. I would be nervous because I could not know if someone had tried to get a hold of me.

15. I would feel anxious because my constant connection to my family and friends would be broken.

16. I would be nervous because I would be disconnected from my online identity.

17. I would be uncomfortable because I could not stay up-to-date with social media and online networks.

18. I would feel awkward because I could not check my notifications for updates from my connections and online networks.

19. I would feel anxious because I could not check my email messages.

20. I would feel weird because I would not know what to do.

The lower the score, the less you are addicted. Anything over 100 is time for an intervention! 
​
I scored 32 on the test - being as honest as I could be.
Which shows me a few areas that I need to work on and improve my score to a lower number. 
What is your score?