Modern convenience? evil necessity? cancer threat? explosive in our pocket? money maker? baby sitter? GPS? computer? TV? movie theatre? music machine? Or what?

The mobile phone has become a part of our life, and for many, has taken on a life within their life.

Imagine, a mobile phone free day once a year, a month or a week. Maybe we should nominate a specific date so we are all in tune. Maybe we could talk to our fellow human beings, rather than running into lamp posts or avoiding tickets from the police for driving while on the phone.

Imagine, a world without a mobile phone. You sleep for 8 solid hours and don’t have to check your email or SMS received during the night. Regardless of importance, we feel happy when someone keeps in contact even for the most senseless and irrelevant things.  There are people out there that send 100+ SMS message a night while sitting at home; now here’s an idea, how about going out and talking to someone?

Imagine, suddenly you notice your surroundings, the people around you and you know where you are walking or driving and at what speed.

Imagine, your kids are talking to you over dinner or during occasional quality family time.

Imagine, your dog feels the love and attention he suddenly gets…

Imagine, you sit on a bus and instead of being one of the zombies silently staring into a pocket device, you idly chat with the person opposite, you hear mothers lecturing their kids or smile at trivial domestic squabbles. You stare out of the window and absorb the colour, sounds and images of your previously un-noticed local environment.

What did we do before mobile phones invaded our lives? More time for ourselves? Time to think before we are woken up? Less expectation to provide instant replies, which if not handled immediately make us appear rude and disinterested?

Imagine a day without pressure. No pressure to be constantly available; able to communicate if we want to but have the choice whether to or not…

Why aren’t we switching off the phone? FOMO (fear of missing out)? feeling lonely? removed from society?

I can’t wait for the first person to say, I switched off the phone…and I’m free!!

About the author

Karl Faux is a veteran Hotelier and Managing Partner with Elite Search – a leading hospitality recruitment firm.
For more information about Karl and Elite Search visit http://www.elitesearch.com.au and The Elite Hotelier http://www.elitehotelier.net