Last week, we went out to dinner with relatives we have not seen for a long time. I was really looking forward to seeing our cousins and having a relaxing dinner.

I realized when we got to the restaurant that I had forgotten my cell phone at home and for the first ten minutes I acted like I'd misplaced one of my vital organs. I kept reaching into my purse every few minutes, hoping it would magically appear, even though I knew perfectly well it was sitting  on it’s charger in my bedroom. I was extremely stressed at the beginning of the meal about being without my cell phone.

 Then something unexpected happened—I actually enjoyed my meal, had a real conversation, and couldn’t check a single notification.  It was a very freeing experience.

Have we become so attached to our phones that being without them for two  hours feels more stressful than deciding what to order for dinner?