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I'm SO Bored...
In a world full of cell phones, TVs, Wiis, and PlayStations, it seems like no one should ever be bored, but even with all of these gadgets at our fingertips, sometimes boredom creeps in. Sometimes it can be hard to think of things to do to keep ourselves occupied, especially without the help of some sort of technology to help in the activity planning. Here are a few gadget-free ideas sure to curb your boredom.
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I'm SO Bored...
In a world full of cell phones, TVs, Wiis, and PlayStations, it seems like no one should ever be bored, but even with all of these gadgets at our fingertips, sometimes boredom creeps in. Sometimes it can be hard to think of things to do to keep ourselves occupied, especially without the help of some sort of technology to help in the activity planning. Here are a few gadget-free ideas sure to curb your boredom.
Back Away from the Cell Phone…
Recently, I had to take a road trip to a retreat center I'd never been to before. I was traveling at night and had pretty vague directions. I ended up getting hopelessly lost and (gasp!) had almost no cell phone service. Thankfully, I ended up getting in touch with someone eventually and made it to my destination safe and sound.
My escapade brought me back to the archaic period in history before cell phones. What did we do? I remember driving down the road as a little girl and thinking about how cool it would be to have a phone that you could use in the car. (I know this is making me sound like Methuselah, but I promise I'm not that old.)
I remember how cool it was when one of our wealthy friends from church got the first cell phone I'd ever heard of. It came in a bag and weighed like 80 pounds and cost something like $1600. It was the most technologically advanced communication device I'd ever laid eyes on.
When I was growing up, we had to use the phones that were actually attached to the wall. I remember feeling totally free when we finally got a cordless phone that I could take outside and use to talk to my friends. If I wanted to hang out with one of my friends, I had to call on the land line. If someone was on the Internet, after getting over the hideous, deafening noise, I'd have to hop on my bike or walk to get to her house. If she wasn't home, I'd have to ride or walk back home. I know. Oh, the tragedy of growing up in the nineties!
This stroll down memory lane made me realize how totally dependent I am on my little mobile device. Here are a few signs that you might be a little too attached to your phone.
The number of texts you get in a month looks like a zip code. I heard of a girl the other day who got 27,000 texts in a month. That's almost 1,000 a day. I hate to break it to you, but just because your parents are paying for the unlimited text plan, it doesn't mean you have to try to set a Guinness record for the number of texts you receive in a month.
U always use txt splng. Language really is a great thing, and if you find yourself thinking in text abbreviations or trying to use "u" and "b/c" in a paper for school, you might be spending a little too much time texting. Practice spelling words completely out. Get a "Word of the Day" calendar and practice using new vocabulary words. (It'll make you sound incredibly clever.)
You can't remember the last time you actually turned your phone off (not just to silent mode). It's actually good for your phone to be powered completely down, so make a habit of turning your phone completely off from time to time. If you're having dinner with your family, in church, or spending time with a close friend (and your parents know where you are), turn it all the way off. It's a great way to let the people you're with know that there's nowhere you'd rather be and no one you'd rather be spending time with than them.
You have a mild panic attack when you misplace your phone. If you actually consider calling the police and hiring a detective squad to help you find your phone, it might be time to take a break. Staying connected is important, but it's also important to keep things in perspective. It is actually possible to live a happy and fulfilled life without a cell phone. (I did for the first 16 years of my life and your parents probably made it into their 30s without a cell phone.)
Seriously, it's good to give the phone a rest from time to time. Don't forget how great it feels to get a real, live hug or to look someone in the eyes when you're talking. If you're feeling really unconventional, hop on your bike and ride over to your friend's house. It's good for you.
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Who are You Watching?
When I think about the women who really had an impact on my life, there’s not a Britney, Christina, or Jessica among them. Mostly, this is due to the fact that I was not lacking female role models, though the names of my role models are much less recognizable.
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Surprise Party
I love surprises. As much as I always insist that I don’t like surprises for my birthday, I totally love them. The most fun surprise of all is the surprise birthday party. However, the couple of days right before the surprise birthday party can be kind of a bummer.