My phone was an extension of myself. I couldn't go anywhere 1 it. I scrolled through my friends' 2 into late night and turned my phone on before my eyes were fully open. I enjoyed having it until that day when I realized that what had started as a useful tool had turned into a(n) 3 . So, I made a 4 decision to turn off that smartphone and 5 my old dumb phone out of hiding.
When I was watching TV shows or movies and there was a boring part, I 6 picking up the phone and checking out "what everyone else was doing." Now I had to pay attention or find a way to 7 myself with my thoughts instead. When I visited New York City, I had to write out 8 and ask people where an intersection (十字路口) was 9 pulling out my phone.
I have welcomed silence into my life with open arms and am enjoying the increased 10 from not constantly having to fight with the 11 to check my phone while I'm trying to get something done. I am allowing my thoughts to speak to me instead of my phone. I am connecting with others in a 12 way that isn't all about me. Instead of always posting about what's going on in my 13 perfect life, I am connecting with my friends one-on-one, talking about the reality of our lives and being there for them from a place of 14 .
As much as having a smartphone was 15 , not having one is freeing on a much bigger level.
