<h1>It's just a Phoneless Day</h1>

So the other week I left something at home that, when carrying it enables me to breathe freely and without which I feel a bit lopsided.   My phone.

Yep all day at work without my Android.  I’ll wait while you all check yours are within reach thereby allowing you to bypass the feelings of panic and woe I suffered…. Got it? Good.  My first thought after realizing what I had done was Balls! FOMO* full on attack-hugged me as I pondered all the things I couldn't do or be involved in for a whole Eight. Hours!  

My predicament made worse by the fact that the I.T. guy that sets up my temp girl laptop was late so I couldn’t even check my social media sites on a p.c.  I hung around the empty office (no one else gets in as early as me) acting all twitchy like I had just chased a 10oz latte with a couple of espresso Martinis**

After what was realistically about 5 minutes but felt eye strainingly*** longer I decided to go to Hot Numbers, a well-known coffee shop hang out for freelancers and students with MACs and laptops.   Walking in was odd – my coffee consumed without first appearing on Instagram I sat for a full 45 minutes with nothing to pay attention to but the people around me. 

I’ll admit 10 of those were a little ‘dreamt I turned up to work naked’ uncomfortable, but sooner then I expected I settled into just watching the world go by.  I saw commuters and tourists alike enjoying the sunny morning.  I laughed as I saw two women cycle past, their bicycle bells shaped like a ladybird and a hamburger (when did the novelty bell become a thing?) I was really and truly just present.  It felt kind of magical.

This got me pondering other aspects of my life that took me out of just being, like TV.  Anyone that knows me, knows my addict status when it comes to my two dimensional friends.  So when I first met Emma a blogger who goes by 100DaysNoTV I was in awe/confused at the concept.

But now I’m wondering if being constantly tuned in might be distracting us from our own undiscovered creativity.  

Would JK Rowling have gotten around to writing the adventures of Mr Potter had she a smart phone that buzzed every 30 seconds?

Would updates on twitter have distracted Stephen Hawking from learning about the everything?  
Would Dave Grohl have joined Nirvana or formed Foo Fighters if he'd been instagramming his guitars and drum kit instead of playing them?

This isn't a ground breaking concept, nor does it mean I'm signing out of social media and selling my telly.  I still need to know how Rick is going to handle Neegan and when dragon lady is going to kick evereone’s arse and get to the God dammed iron throne! 

But I am trying to find a better balance between technology and creativity.  If I get it right I'm hoping more magical moments will occur.

  

*Fear Of Missing Out, seriously where’ve you been?!

** something I unfortunately have first-hand experience of.  
** what? It's a word!