"My Battery is Going to Die!"

You must have heard it a million times: "I've got to go... my battery is going to die." Whether you were speaking with your girlfriend in Los Angeles, your fiance in New York, your wife in Miami or all three lovely ladies at the same time on your cell phone, that familiar quote must ring a bell. Do you honestly think they were ever telling the truth? I for one have always been honest in stating the reality of my cell phone's condition, yet people sometimes think I'm talking about my fear of losing my phone's life.

Some people may believe that I'm obsessed with death and dying by bringing up the fact that my cell phone battery's days are numbered. Others may understand that when I say, "My battery is going to die," I mean that the power level in the current battery located in my cell phone is nearly empty and it would be a good time to end the conversation to prevent getting cut off mid sentence. I'm sure they all know it's the latter meaning.

Oh, but what if it were the perfect way to end a conversation without coming off as impersonal, curt, or inconsiderate? Personally, I feel the best way to end a conversation is to prevent having one in the first place, especially when we're talking about talking on a cell phone. What percentage of cell phone calls made during our most active hours are action-based? How many are talk-based? Let me explain:

Action-Based Phone Calls - briefly discussing logistics, strategies, or plans of action. Example: "I'm at the theatre and can get two tickets to Phantom tonight. Do you want to see it again for the seventh time?"

Talk-Based Phone Calls - briefly discussing whatever's on one's mind
Example: "What did you have for lunch today?"

Just consider the realities of using a cell phone. Beyond the potential convenience, realize the actual inconvenience. Have you ever experienced these symptoms?:

(1) Feeling compelled to check your cell phone each time it rings, chimes, or plays a seductive ringtone.
(2) Feeling obligated to answer every call including those without showing a legitimate telephone number in your "caller id".
(3) Feeling required to answer even if it's to say you're not available to speak.

Consider using the excuse "My battery is going to die" the next time your cell phone rings when you are compelled to answer that call. Only when you begin having the self-control to allow calls to go to voice mail or to leave your phone on in silent mode will you consider how much power you'll save by not immediately accepting an incoming call.

True autonomy and control will exist when you have the power to turn off the power, conserve your energy (and your cell phone's energy), and focus on the true urgent priorities in your day. Sometimes it's beneficial to be unavailable. Think about the common results of supply and demand and turn off your cell phone for a day or even a few hours.

During my senior year of high school, I had dated a young woman a couple of times and within a few weeks had lost interest in seeing her again. Upon attempting to reach me via telephone at home one night, my Dad (the sweetest guy I know), sensed her urgency in needing to speak to me. He quickly stated that someone must have either been dead or pregnant, so he asked, "Which is it?"

Good news: no one was dead or pregnant (or both). And would you believe that she never called me at my Dad's place again? If only cell phones today came with parental controls for adults.

Until that feature is offered, let's stick to e-mail, and I promise I won't get my Dad involved.