I was shopping in DSW and waiting in line to pay. When I got up to the counter, I realized that I had left my cell phone at home with my coupons in my email. Hoping they would still let me use my coupons, I asked the lady at the checkout my question.

“I’m sorry, I left my cell phone at home with my emailed coupons,” I began, but she interrupted me with a sigh.

“You’re so lucky. I wish I would leave my phone at home,” she murmured, to my surprise.

The poor woman looked so forlorn; my heart went out to her. She was a slave to her phone and couldn’t get away from it. The idea of leaving her phone where she couldn’t reach it brought looks of longing for freedom and relief to her face.

I was stunned at the sad reality that so many face. Instead of being helped by the most efficient device ever invented, many are slaves to it. How sad.

DSW let me use my coupons that day, and I got a discount on my purchases, but I gained a perspective that was much more valuable than a coupon that day.