On our vacation to Provence, I consciously left my iPhone® at home. That sounds good and healthy, right? Well it did feel good and healthy right up until the time I stepped off the airplane in Paris and reached into my purse for my phone. Nothing there. Momentary tachycardia, like when you can’t find your wallet, car keys or wedding ring (Where was I last night?). I remembered the phone was at home, took a few deep breaths and headed to passport control.
Standing in line at passport control and later in customs there are big multilingual signs, “no cellphone use”. No problem, even though I don’t like to be told what I can and cannot do. It was a different story in the car ride to the hotel, in the Paris subways and on the TGV to Provence. When I sit in a car, I usually take advantage of that time to catch up with my office and Certified Legal Nurse Consultants. It was only natural that when every other Frenchwoman or man pulled out their cellphone to text, Facebook or check their make-up, I unconsciously and enviously reached for my own phone. It’s an involuntary reaction, much like breathing. When I have a bit of free time I grab the iPhone, check email, check Facebook and check email again (just in case).
It took a couple of days, but I soon calmed down and joined fully with the slow life of Provence. Walking from village to village, eating lunch outside in a small café or having an aperitif on the terrace before dinner, I forgot the iPhone. Even the urge to call family or friends left. I was free to enjoy my vacation, and enjoy I did! Although one day the combination of a French baguette, Époisses cheese and a healthy glass of great Bordeaux wine almost had me ready to tweet!
I heartily recommend that all Certified Legal Nurse Consultants take a temporary vacation from your phones. Your mental health might suffer at first, but then it will magically soar. Take a moment, put down the phone, pick up a baguette, some cheese and a glass of French red – you’ll thank me later.
Success Is Inside!
P.S. Comment and share your own experiences disconnecting, even if they’re just partial.
P.P.S. It’s later – you can thank me now.
Thank you – of course! I know that tachy-rush of “abandonment” when I reach for mine (just the other day – not two blocks from my home office – picking up a veggie/spinach wrap for lunch (yep – too busy to make my own and looking for an excuse to “get away from” my phone!) I nearly fainted because I had left you-know-what on my desk!!! Next to my keys – which were in my pocket!! Talk about subliminal messages!!
Have decided to try it again this weekend during a Connecticut River cruise on a sightseeing boat with daughter and friend!! Thanx for the “support”!
A timely post, Vickie. I’m planning my first trip to France for an (unmentionable) upcoming birthday in September, and have been scouring the Internet for places that offer free WiFi access. I don’t know if I can go cold turkey. You’re braver than I am! But you’ve given me something to think about…
Chris and Lynne,
Go for it – you will love it.
And to think back….how did we manage without all that technology just a few years ago! Now, we are born with a phone attached to the side of out heads! (LOL) Thanks for the reminders, Vickie, that there is life without the phone!