Put Down the Duckie
Remember the Sesame Street song, “Put Down the Duckie”? In case you don’t, it was sung to Ernie, who really wanted to learn to play the saxaphone: but he had a problem. He wouldn’t put down his rubber duckie. He could get a squeak out of the sax, but until he put all his attention in one place, he couldn’t really play anything anyone would enjoy hearing.
For most people today, their duckie is the ever-present cell phone. Nobody likes to be the person at lunch waiting for you to get off your device. Now, I love technology, and all that it can make possible. I’m also a huge advocate of a healthy digital diet: conscious consumption of technology to support optimal mental health and productivity. 
That’s why I’d like to give a big shout out to Naomi Simson for her recent “The 21 day challenge – no phone in the company of others.”
It’s just what it says: Do not use your cell phone when you are with other people. For 21 days.
Try it. Put down the duckie.
Be present. Enjoy what happens.
