I can't see our relationship, your phone is in the way.

I can't see our relationship, your phone is in the way.

Every single one of us is guilty of it. Whether you Facebook, tweet, Instagram, crush candy, flap birds, or water your farm. At some point, you've ignored someone much more important than your cell phone. This blog is serving as a rant/intervention for those who need it, including myself. Yes, technology is so awesome and so advanced, but at the same time it's jeopardizing relationships and most people don't realize it.

Your phone may be negatively influencing your relationship if:

You have to ask "what?" after someone just spoke to you while you were on your phone.
I don't know about you, but I absolutely hate repeating myself. It makes me feel like i'm not worth your time or attention. For the android users out there, my boyfriend is obsessed with "Reddit." If I say something while he's scrolling through looking at the latest news story or crazy picture, and he says "what did you say?" I don't repeat myself. It's bratty, I know, but it's a pretty good little process i've got going, and he does the same thing to me if I ignore him for my phone. So far, it's working. If someone is talking to you, pay attention. Make eye contact. These are the common courtesies of conversation that are as old as time.

Your phone improves your mood.
"A text message!" "My tweet just got 10 favorites!" "Oh my gosh look who retweeted me!" "I put 12 hashtags on this picture and it got 102 likes!" "Oh look, someone just re-pinned my blueberry muffin recipe on Pinterest!" "I got 52 likes on my status today!"
If any of the above things are sources of your daily happiness, repeat after me "I have a problem." If you have to seek validity or recognition from your 1,383 Facebook friends, it's just sad. Don't lose the important connections to the real world around you and real people.

Your child says "watch this mommy/daddy" and you have to say "hold on."
Your children are only that age once. Put your phone down and watch her twirl around the living room. Leave your phone in your purse during your son's tee ball game. They are so much more important than the latest Facebook drama or you Instagramming a picture of yet another sunset.

You have your phone out at the lunch/dinner table.
It doesn't matter if you're eating with your loved one, your family, your friends, or your co-workers. Put your phone in your purse or your pocket. It's so rude. If you're eating with someone and all they can see is the apple on the back of your iphone, they probably will not enjoy spending their lunch/dinner with you. Instagram can go without seeing your plate of pasta with a valencia filter applied to it.

You cling to your phone like it's a newborn baby.
It's a cell phone. A PHONE. If you carry it to the bathroom, to the kitchen, back to the bedroom, sleep with it right next to you, and freak out and think the world is ending when you can't find it (and God forbid if it's on silent.. what will you DO?!) you have a problem. Think about it this way: our parents, grandparents, great grandparents, and so on survived without a cell phone glued to their palm at all times. Believe it or not, you can too.

Your significant other, friends, or family have told you "you're on your phone too much."
Self explanatory. If someone else has noticed how bad your addiction is, it's obvious that it needs to be fixed.

You broadcast all of your dirty laundry via social media.
Girls: If your boyfriend/husband/etc pisses you off, please, for all of our sakes who have to read it and watch you take it back tomorrow, do NOT post all of your boyfriend or baby daddy issues all over Facebook and Twitter. Not only does it look bad, but no one actually cares to read it. I usually just do a nice sassy eye roll, hide your posts, and keep scrolling. Keep your personal business between you and the guy. Plus, he's going to feel like crap when he sees that you told all 1,382 of your Facebook friends that he stood you up for dinner last night. Arguments should be kept private. If you make up minutes, hours, or days later.. that status still happened and it's embarrassing for both of you.
Guys, you're guilty of this too, but it usually involves posting pictures of your money stacks, talking about how much swag you have, or telling all of social media how many beers you funneled last night. So. Attractive.
*Also, studies show that people talk more about their relationships on Facebook than they do face to face with their significant other. So embarrassing.

You password protect everything 
There isn't much to say about this one. I'm huge on honesty. I want someone to know that they can go through my text messages, Facebook messages, phone calls, pictures, and not find anything unbecoming. If you password protect your phone, text messages, pictures, etc.. what message is that sending to your significant other? It says "there's something in here that I don't really want anyone to see."

You have almost hit a mailbox, a pedestrian, a car, or any other object because of your phone.
Since the first day I got my phone, my mom has always told me "your phone is there for YOUR convenience, not the person on the other line." The text can wait. If your phone has fallen on the floor or between the seats, leave it. Don't risk your life or someone else's for your cell phone. It's pathetic how many people have their lives taken due to one text message, phone call, or social media post. IT CAN WAIT. I'm sure your boyfriend, girlfriend, wife, husband, or best friend would much rather you be alive and well than to become paralyzed or dead from trying to respond. Yes, Facebook and Twitter can go without knowing how bad that car on Airport Blvd just pissed you off when they slammed on breaks in front of you, or what you just picked up at Target to cook for dinner tonight. I can't even tell you how many girls i've seen (while driving) trying to take pictures of their Starbucks cups.

Stop making your cell phone such a huge priority. Turn off your phone for a few hours and go outside. Play with your children. Read your bible. Have a nice evening with a loved one. Do your homework or study for your test. Do something other than tap on a touchscreen. Not only will everyone else thank you for it, you'll be thankful too.

And one of my favorite quotes by Albert Einstein.. "I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots." I think this day is quickly approaching if it hasn't already.

From one smart phone addict to another,
Hope Rodriguez