Missing smartphone for 90 minutes

Our lives today are intricately tied to the use of smartphones. We rely on them for nearly every aspect of daily life — watching the news, paying bills, browsing the internet for leisure, connecting with friends and family, jotting down grocery items to buy and even managing our health. It's not uncommon to see people walking, talking or crossing the street with their heads buried in their phones.

This has become so pervasive that it's almost a norm in society. Whether in cafes, restaurants, grocery stores or even on a pickleball court, smartphones are everywhere. But is our "Fear of Missing Out," or FOMO, so powerful that we cannot imagine life without these rectangular power devices?

Just yesterday, I had an unexpected and eye-opening experience — an hour and a half of reflection and realization, all because I was without my smartphone. It wasn't planned, but the lesson I learned is something I'll carry with me for the rest of my life.

My smartphone was stolen from a public library. I had left it on a nearby tabletop while I was making a quick copy, thinking it would be safe for just a moment. By the time I realized it was missing, panic set in. I contacted security, who called 911, and the police were dispatched. In the meantime, I used the Find My app to track the device's location. The app pinpointed its whereabouts, and the police invited me to ride with them to retrieve it.

However, when we arrived at the location, the phone had been turned off. We waited, and soon a new location appeared. This cat-and-mouse game continued for about 20 minutes, with the thief turning the phone on and off whenever we got close.

Then, a twist of fate occurred. A good Samaritan, who had just finished his shift at a nearby donut shop, noticed a man ditching a phone in an unusual public space. He immediately called the police. All the while, we remained in contact with the police through the app. Eventually, an officer handed me a phone without its casing and asked if I could identify it as mine. It was indeed my phone. Though it had only been missing for 90 minutes, it felt like an eternity.

The relief I felt was immense. But what struck me most wasn't just the recovery of my phone. It was the overwhelming gratitude I felt for those who had helped me. The police officers, the good Samaritan and the security guard at the public library all played crucial roles in reuniting me with my phone. This experience taught me valuable lessons about mindfulness, gratitude and the real importance of and our dependence on the devices we carry.

As I reflect on this incident, I ask you: who is really minding your smartphone right now?

Shin Freedman (shinfreed@gmail.com) is an author, educator and writer.