Call Me Maybe

Describe your relationship with your phone. Is it your lifeline, a buzzing nuisance, or something in between?

Today, almost everyone has a phone, even kids below ten years old. We seldom meet people who does not own a phone, whether or not it is a smartphone. Everyone carries one around for certain purposes—personal, business, work, and many more—and our relationship with our phones also vary to a certain degree. Some consider their phone their best buddy, while others treat their phones a necessary evil. My relationship with my phone is something complicated; it is a little bit of both. For me, it is a lifeline, while for others, it is a buzzing nuisance.

Lifeline

As someone who is currently assigned elsewhere, I make sure that I have my phone with me. I need to make sure my line is always open so anyone can reach me anytime—our vice president, our general manager, our onboarding manager, my supervisors, my fellow trainers, my trainees, my family, and my friends who are all far away from me. I need to make sure that when they need me or anything from me, they can easily connect with me through call, SMS, chat, or e-mail.

I also make my life a little bit more fun with my phone. I don’t have any games on my phone, but I keep myself busy with social media—Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter. These are just some of the ways that I can connect with the people who matter to me and are far away. This keeps me updated how they are, what they’re up to, what keeps them busy, and such things.

My phone also keeps me focused with work when I am alone through music. I no longer save music files on my phone and use Spotify instead, which is rather convenient. I also take photos and videos using my phones, which I upload on my social media accounts or simply send directly to my friends and family.

Buzzing Nuisance

Other people find my relationship with my phone a buzzing nuisance; for them, I am overly attached with my phone that I always have it with me. Some of my friends have already complained that my face is “always glued to my phone.” Some find it rude that I check my phone from time to time when I am talking to them, or I check my work e-mail while I am on vacation leave. My family also complains that I spend too much time on social media, which they find uncalled for and unbecoming for someone like me. They think I need to tone down my attachment to Facebook and Instagram.

I understand what they mean and feel, and I have no problems with that. I also try to see their point of view about my relationship with my phone, and I agree with them most of the time. I no longer bother explaining, and it is also something they have come to deal with. They respect my relationship with my phone, however bizarre, and I respect theirs.