A single line, a single message, is sent up to the universe.
Three words sent and received within seconds after travelling through the stars and back.
A place where only select humans have been
To witness the great wonders of the world.

The tone that alerts us that our message is back from its journey,
The sound that tells us we are needed,
Has become a death sentence.
We are at the beck and call of our phones.

We are slaves to the small electronics in our back pockets.
Their strict commands are largely impacting the teens of today,
Making it impossible to leave the house without towing along the ball and chain.

When they call, you come running; an instinct programmed into our brains.

Whatever was sent has to be read,
There is something going on and you have to know who did what and who said that to whom,
Because if you aren’t totally up to date,
What would happen?

What would happen if you didn’t answer your phone?
Would you lose a friend since they didn’t get their answer in the matter of seconds?
Or miss an opportunity to go somewhere?
Maybe not know the most current gossip?

Are those the friends you want to have?
Ones that will drop your relationship or talk behind your back,
Because you tolerate the sound of the phone ringing;
Because it doesn’t have authority over your life.

Is that a situation you want to be in?
Going someplace, though the invitation only lasts 3 seconds.
You’re either in or out,
Apparently it’s as easy as that.

How would you feel if the roles were reversed?
People watching your every move,
Just waiting to take out their phones and publicize your mistakes.
You can claim that it’s harmless and that they won’t care, but wouldn’t you?

The technology that is shaping our world
Is changing the ways of the generation and the ones to come after us
The innovations that are opening so many doors for the future
Are doing more harm than good

11 teens die every day from holding their phones instead of the steering wheel.
You are told these statistics in health class and on advertisements,
But no one truly comprehends the magnitude of what they are saying.
They are just numbers, not real people.

But the next time you walk through the hallway,
The next time you hang out with your friends,
Look at all of their faces and count,
Because in one day, they could all be gone.

If someone you love isn’t able to resist their phone,
Then they will leave this world, leave their family and friends.
Never to feel the warmth of a family member’s hug again,
Never to laugh until they cry with best friends again.

The people you care about most in life weren’t able to let go of their phones.
Weren’t able to detach for a minute in order to get where they are going,
Or to live in the moment and create memories in the present,
Always reliving the past or planning the future

So the next time you hear the tone beckoning you,
The next time you have the chance to become a statistic
Think of 11 people in your life you wouldn’t ever see again.
And then see if the message seems as important…