Everyone was on Their Phone and No One Looked Happy
What I Noticed in the Coffee Line
Friday morning, after I dropped the kids off at school, I went to my favorite coffee shop. I was grabbing to-go, because I had a full slate of recordings to get done. And while I was waiting in a line 8 people deep for the best Nitro coffee in town, I saw something very upsetting.
Everyone in front of me was looking straight down at their phone. Perhaps the only reason I saw this is because I intentionally left everything except some cash and my keys in the car. As I’ve written about here, I’m trying to leave my phone in my car more often. So there I was, looking around the coffee shop, alone with my thoughts.
After ordering (and asking the cashier how many people pay with cash these days), I saw all the people waiting behind me doing the same thing...except two guys who were having a conversation. The people waiting for their coffee on the other side of the counter — same story.
That’s not what I noticed though. I mean, that’s not exactly a groundbreaking observation.
They All Looked Unhappy
What I noticed was the way they looked. They all had this scrunched-up, madder-side-of-neutral face as they mindlessly scrolled. Like they weren’t that happy to be on their phones. Like they were just doing it because it was something to do.
Because god forbid we do nothing for a few minutes. Is this really the relationship we have with technology? One where it doesn’t make us happy, but at least we aren’t left alone with our thoughts?
The only smiling people, by the way, were the two people in line talking, and the group of people sitting in the corner, also talking.
And that should tell us something.
We Need to Be Bored
I’ve been thinking a lot about being bored. I’m working on a bigger piece about it, because I think it’s important; it’s not just something I want to quickly scrawl about and hit publish on. But the crux is this: boredom makes us better.
It gives us time alone with our thoughts. To form our own opinions. To think through problems. To not be emotionally affected by every transgression that happens online.
Living in the Real World
Being bored also makes us more aware of our surroundings. We hear everything that’s going on. We see what’s happening around us. We can strike up a conversation with a stranger, or help someone in need. Or just like...hold the door for the person behind us.
Recently I wrote about why I think we should have more phone-free bars. More device-less taverns. Maybe I’m aiming too high for right now.
Maybe we can just try leaving our phones in the car for a 10-minute errand. It will give us the opportunity to interact with the people around us, instead of being rage-baited by people who don’t know we exist.
Maybe, just maybe, we can put a smile on someone’s face...instead of whatever face they’re making when they stare at their phone.