Does this sound familiar? "I left a voicemail, but you haven't returned my call." Or "I sent you another email, but you haven't replied." Most likely. I hear this almost daily and it doesn't even always concern me, because I am always available. Of course I'm not. I don’t want to be. There are times when you wish there were no mobile phones and no internet. This week I showed someone a hotel where I once had a great stay.
Thanks to the internet on my phone, yes smartphone. Afterwards, I received all sorts of information about hotels, cheap flights, book your next stay in a hotel now, etc. etc. I don’t want that.
Does this sound familiar? You're on holiday, feet in the sand, looking out over the Mediterranean, clear blue skies, 28 degrees, a light sea breeze, your beach bag next to you, your wife hands you a chilled drink and asks you if she needs to rub your back and then …… you can hear the ringtone coming from your beach bag. "That's yours," your wife says. I don’t want it. "Are you going to answer that?" she asks. I actually don't want to answer it, but my ringtone is rather loud, because I have a bad ear. It's so loud that people around me are looking irritably in my direction, so I suppose I have to. And what do you know? A colleague asking how things are going. Your feet in the sand, you must be enjoying yourself, without a phone.”
What was going on holiday like 25 years ago? The beach, the Mediterranean, the weather, the beach bag, the suntan lotion, it hasn't changed all that much. Yes, maybe your wife has changed, and nowadays everyone is on their smartphones, calling, gaming, emailing or photographing and filming.
I don’t want it.
Queuing at the campsite for the pay phone, inserting coins to call home and let them know you'd arrived safely. Maybe call once more that week to talk about the weather and the delicious food, but that was it.
I used to love it. It used to be wonderful to come home after the holidays and share your stories with your family or friends and actually experience your holiday all over again.
Those days are not coming back. No, nowadays we are available 24/7. To your wife, your children, your family, your in-laws, your friends, your acquaintances, your enemies, your colleagues, your relations, your clients, call centres, the government, the alarm centre, your neighbours, your sports mates, your club mates, your …… NO, I DON'T WANT IT, but I suppose I have to.
I am so thankful for my bad ear now and then.
Paul Verhagen