Cellphones: Unintended Consequences

Having a phone, computer and camera in your pocket is amazing, no doubt. How has this phenomena impacted our lives inadvertently? Some folks constantly carry their phone in their dominant hand and juggle everything else. Others wear ear or neck devices like jewelry to stay ever-ready for the latest call or notification. Ironically, there are people who will only answer their phones directly if you text them first! Any travel requires a cord/plug to keep "precious" charged up. I read that an audience member walked onto a Broadway stage in progress and tried to plug a phone into a fake set outlet! In the past in mental health waiting rooms, we worried about clients picking each other up- no more- they are staring at their phones- perhaps on Tinder. What I call "un-mindfulness" occurs in classes, conferences, parks and family dinners as people play games or go on social media to be anywhere but in the moment their physical selves inhabit. When I see drivers drifting out of their lane now, they are usually on a call rather than drunk. Are folks using less substances due to these outgrowths? I wish! The possible health risks of holding it to your head all day and enormous financial costs compared to simple landlines were not anticipated by consumers. I just hope we all reflect  on how we use them, as well as occasionally unplugging to reconnect with ourselves.