I recently left my smart phone at home and when I realized it, I could not figure out how I would survive the day.  Like almost everyone else who owns one, I look at my e-mails and text messages at least one hundred times a day.  It’s become an obsession.  As I was driving in to work, it wasn’t an issue since I never take it out in the car.  However, once I parked in my garage in Manhattan and began the three block walk to my office, I felt naked.  Instinctively, I reached for my phone, which would normally be attached to my waist, time and time again, only to find it missing.  I wanted to look at my e-mails, listen to voice mails, check Twitter and make a phone call.  How could I have been so absent-minded as to leave an appendage almost as important as my arm, 20 miles away in my home.  Once I arrived at my office, the stress of not having my sidekick, had subsided.  My computer was available to check e-mails and I had much work to do, so it became a non-issue….until 1:00 when I went out for lunch.  Standing on line, waiting to order, felt like an eternity.  I had nothing to do but stand around and wait.  I could be making phone calls and answering e-mails, instead I was just standing around wasting time.  Then it hit me, really hit me.  I have an addiction.  I am addicted to this little computer phone.  In some ways, it had over taken what little downtime I have.  It was an epiphany of soughts.  What’s wrong with not having anything to do for twenty minutes?  Have I grown so attached to this device, it now controls my life?  It was disturbing.  By the time I left the office and began the three block walk back to my garage, the withdrawal had ceased.  I actually felt free and didn’t miss having that mind controlling gadget with me.  I looked around and saw people walking.  The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day; something I would not have noticed, had I not forgotten my dumb phone that morning.  Even though I realized once I arrived home it would again be my partner, the day of separation from my phone, was quite satisfying.  I knew, if I had to, I could live without it.