A few weeks ago, I had a friend sleep on my couch for a few days. We talked a lot about the current state of relationships — friendship or romantic — and technology. How the two help and hinder one another. Everyone I know is swiping right and left with varied success, and I find myself aggravated in social situations with people who look at their phones immediately after asking me a question. It’s been a very conscious decision to not look at my phone, as much as is possible, when I’m with other people. Sometimes I leave it at home when I go to yoga — and I feel that panicky urge to check it as soon as class is done, only to realize I have a bike ride home before I can do so. It’s a terrible feeling, not one I’d like to get used to, and not one I think it beneficial for our skin-to-skin connections.
That friend suggested taking time away from our phones — something I’ve thought about a lot. I did just that about a week later, set my phone aside for 80% of the day and didn’t even think to check it. It felt amazing, until I checked it and saw dozens of confused “why aren’t you answering” texts alongside the snaps and messages and instagrams and facebooks, etc. I immediately felt guilty. I SHOULD BE ANSWERING THE PEOPLE! But, do I need to? Nothing was urgent. Nobody was hurt. Nothing had gone wrong. Can we practice a little bit of patience?
So yesterday, when I realized I’d — by my own lack of care — drowned my phone in a frigid waterfall (as I was smelling the smells and feeling the cold feelings and being present to the best of my capabilities), I was kind of relieved. Terrified of the reaction from the people I’d be letting down (OMG ARE THEY FREAKING OUT BECAUSE I CAN’T SEND THEM AN EMOJI!?), but grateful to have a mandatory respite from the incessant screen-checking. Grateful it was Sunday afternoon and I’d never make it to the Verizon store before they closed. Grateful to go to the grocery store, with insane lines that took 20 minutes to go through, and not spend the whole time texting/snapping/complaining about the situation. I just stood there, overhearing conversations from everyone around me, watching people, smelling flowers, thinking about things other than double-tapping and LOLing and sending a sassy flat-line face emoji.
I feel like the hippiest person in the world for thinking about this situation from such a removed standpoint — WHY am I feeling emotions about not having a phone? Or why am I not? And even though I’m psyched to get a new phone today, albeit bummed I can’t hold out for the new iPhone in a month or so, I’m glad to have had a little forced break. It actually crossed my mind yesterday: could I make it the rest of the month without one? Uuuh part of that gives me anxiety to even pose the question, and part of me thinks: why not?
RIP little iPhone. You’ve been all over the world with me, and replaced another water-logged amiga. But, you’re just a thing. I don’t really need you 24/7.
I do, however, need this French toast as much as possible. I’ve loved banana bread french toast for EVER, but never thought to make it with zucchini bread until very recently. Why the heck not? I took the loaf I made last week and let it dry a bit, then coated it in a very simple egg mixture and fried it up. YUM. I’ll admit to standing over the kitchen sink while dunking this stuff in maple syrup and shoving it straight into my pie-hole. IT’S WORTH IT. Just make sure you go on a crazy run or something first… it’s definitely not a *light* breakfast.
Thanks for putting up with my ramblings — hopefully you’ve found some way to be present this summer! xoxo
Print
Coconut Zucchini Bread French Toast
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 pieces 1x
Ingredients
- 6 1" pieces of coconut zucchini bread
- 2 eggs
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 pinch salt
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
- butter, for cooking
- maple syrup, for topping
Instructions
- If you can, cut the zucchini bread the night before, and let it dry a bit overnight.
- When you're ready to make the French toast, whisk together the eggs, milk, vanilla, salt, and cinnamon.
- Dip a piece of zucchini bread in the egg mixture, letting soak for about 30 seconds on each side. Scrape of excess before placing it in a skillet over medium heat (with a thin layer of butter already melted in it). Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side, and until golden on the outside.
- Repeat with all pieces of zucchini bread.
- Serve topped with syrup, berries, or whatever else you want!
Abby @ The Frosted Vegan says
I so agree with this! After installing an app that tracks how much time I spend on my phone, I realized that WHOA I was wasting so much just dinking around on things I didn't really have a purpose or mission with. Now, I don't take it with me on walks or if I'm going to yoga either. Fist bump girlfriend!
Mary says
Fist bump!! Good for you, lady! What's the app? I feel like I should start using that... 🙂
Stephanie Weaver, MPH says
I love this post so much. I, too, work at being present. And the phone, while great, is so NOT THAT. Just spent the weekend with family at a wedding and really, really tried to only use it for photos. The world did not come to an end. And yes, I feel like I was THERE. I don't have to have proof I was there with 100 photos. I was there.
Oh, and the photos are ridiculously beautiful. So glad someone connected us!
Mary says
Thanks, Stephanie!! Amazing how the world keeps going, even if we step offline... but it totally does! 😉
Glad to have you here! xo
Erin says
This is probably one of the best recipe ideas ever. That coconut zucchini cake is amazing, so of course making it a French Toast?! So so amazing.
And I feel ya on the phone sitch. I am so guilty of overly checking my phone when I really don't need to. I love the idea of leaving your phone for a while. I'm going to try it! Fingers crossed I don't have too much separation anxiety, ha.
Mary says
Thanks, Erin! Good luck with the phone thing – I'll be curious to hear how it goes! xo
Maggie says
Yum. I can't wait to make this! I wonder how subbing coconut milk for regular milk would work.
I so love this post and also often think about how I use technology. There is some interesting research on how getting notifications from our phones stimulates a "hit" of dopamine in our brains, creating an addiction-like cycle. No wonder it feels lick such a compulsion! One thing that has really helped me is not having the Facebook app on my phone at all. I spend way too much time on there as it is and it helps not to have it at my fingertips all the time! I also don't use any other social media (instagram, snapchat, etc.) which I think makes a big difference because there are just fewer things to check. Maybe not an option if you're a blogger and trying to work on building a following though 🙂 I still use my phone more than I might like but I try to set limits on how/where I use it and stick to them pretty strictly - never while driving, not on hikes or runs, not while out with anyone else in a social setting, and not on the table at all if I'm out to eat or out for a drink. I am going to Spain for a week and a half pretty soon and I have decided to go Facebook free for the whole trip to work on being present. It will be interesting to see how it goes!
Mary says
Thanks, Maggie! I bet subbing coconut milk would be AMAZING!! Let me know if you try it!
Glad you liked the post! It sounds like you have the phone-free thing pretty nailed — I'm impressed/inspired! Last night I, for the first time ever, slept with my phone turned off and in another room... it was awesome! I'm psyched to see how things will change as I keep distancing myself from it. I definitely can't go without instagram/snapchat though... YET! xo (HAVE FUN IN SPAIN!! Sounds amazing!)
Nicolas says
Speaking about your cell. phone, "But, you’re just a thing. I don’t really need you 24/7." So very true and wise!!!!
Mary says
Thanks, Nicolas 🙂 xoxo
Margaret says
I so agree with what Maggie stated about the “hit” of dopamine in our brains, creating an addiction-like cycle. It is being proved that all of this instant 'gratification' and 'stating' that we're "multi-tasking" is causing havoc to the development of children; thereby more on drugs for actually self-induced / parent-induced causes. Relax people and take time just to think, dream and have conversations or play board games with real, present people! If you can't go cold turkey of putting your electronics away for 1 - 4 hours every day, start slowly by not taking your phone when your exercising, walking the dog / kids / self or read a chapter in a paper book not ebook. Yes, we also need to 'train' our friends (real or electronic) that we're not going to be available 24x7x365.
Mary says
I think that "training" friends part is key — something I'm trying to introduce to my circles: I might not text back asap! It ruffles some feathers... but hopefully over time they'll realize that's how I roll! Consider yourself warned! 😉
Tessa | Salted Plains says
I am totally with you on this phone business. I tend to find myself relieved when I'm in an area where I'm not getting service. As much as I often want to disconnect from it, I find myself checking way more often than I need. This french toast sounds insanely good and is gorgeous!!
Mary says
Amen! Thanks, Tessa! xo