Melissa Mancilla-post 1

I figured I’d get an early start on this blog since without my phone I feel as if I have no other purpose in life….only kidding. I hope.

So I must admit, I was not thrilled with the proposition of abandoning all forms of media for 3 days. I never thought media to be an essential part of my daily routine. Society needs it to get by, maybe, but I had always imagined I would not be fazed if I didn’t have a laptop in front of my face 24/7. That’s as far as my confidence in myself extended though, for I never dared to think what I’d do if asked to go three days without it.

My daily routine usually consists of me waking up, immediately checking my phone, taking a shower, and heading straight to the computer after that. The rest of the day is always up in the air, but as soon as I’m conscious I know for sure to head for the phone and my day starts from there. Take out the phone and radio and suddenly everything becomes convoluted and from there. As I somehow managed to wake up and make my way out of my room, I unenthusiastically began my day of media fasting.

The first thing to go was my phone. I set it aside and switched it to silent while I got some work done online (I’m currently taking 2 online courses). After a while I was naturally curious to check it, but for the first time I questioned myself as to why I am always so eager to check my phone. It’s not like I’m an important person waiting for an important call, and quite honestly most of the texts I get are forwards of dirty jokes. I figured that from now on, if I could spend at least an hour away from my phone each day, I would get an infinite more amount of work done. Eventually, I went to check anyway. I found that when I do not answer my phone within the first few seconds after my friends text or call me, they automatically assume I’m dead. I never realized that people assumed my cell phone is attached at the hip with me. Am I really that dependent on it?? I didn’t want to find out since the possible answer scared me. After a while, I decided to just turn it off for the day.

Without the option of just plopping down on the couch and turning on the television, my otherwise lazy self was motivated to get out and be active. I went to the gym for the first time in months and got a good amount of exercising done. Without my phone constantly ringing, I was never burdened to look at the time. There was a television in front of my treadmill though. The default channel was set to Fox News, which made me wonder if it were really a gym or a brainwashing facility. I was suddenly okay with the idea of turning off the TV.

No radio in the car was by far the hardest part of my day. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t tempted to turn on the radio, any station for a change, just to hear some form of music to entertain me. Instead of giving in to the temptations of the radio dial, I let my windows down and immediately my car was invaded with foreign sounds of the city. Downtown San Antonio has a soundtrack all its own. Horns honking, tires screeching, car basses booming by, and I never knew my wheel made a squeaking noise whenever I turn it…not good. But the one thing I never took time to listen to before were people. When I have music on in my car I tend to zone out, becoming absorbed in my own world. Now with the windows down, I could hear families talking about their lives, kids laughing, human beings for a change. Somehow, amongst all my frustration, the sounds of the city grounded me. They were not soothing by any means, but rather a nice reminder that I’m somehow, someway still connected to this world. A long, silent car ride home was just what I needed to contemplate not only how I’m going to get by these next three days, but how I live every day of my life.

Although I highly doubt I will ever eliminate all media from my day again by choice. Overall, as of now, I would say I thought wrong when I assumed media didn’t play an important role in my everyday life.