Imagine people walking by with headphones in and blocking out the natural sounds of the earth. Wind rustling the leaves, the sound of cars motoring by in the distance, small talk held by other college students who pass you.

You’ve done this, haven’t you?

The number of students who are too busy to look up from their smartphone for a minute to have a conversation with another human being is unbelievable.

In a study done by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, they found “more than three quarters (78 percent) of U.S. adults believe that distracted walking is a “serious” issue. However, 74 percent of Americans say “other people” are usually or always walking while distracted, while only 29 percent say the same about themselves, the study shows.

The fact that people have the audacity to point fingers and not fess up is astonishing. But to put the blame on others and act like they’ve never done it themselves is mind blowing.

When walking from Ellis Hall to Leavenworth, the number of students who are avoiding contact with others through these toxic habits is bewildering.

Smartphones have disrupted and discontinued interpersonal relationships by offering a coping mechanism of not having to speak to someone in person.

Sure, smartphones are a convenience most times, but there are still a lot of damaging factors to them.

The thing is, it’s not just the United States that has problems with smartphone users that walk and talk. Other countries have solidified statistics on how the people of their country are walking around while blocking out the world.

News outlets in Australia, England, New Zealand, China, Sweden, and many others have articles warning pedestrians and “zombie walkers” of the hazards of using your phone while walking.

On another note, younger generations are getting their hands-on smartphones sooner and sooner and this damages their ability to communicate with others later down the line. Smartphones have deteriorated their chances of speaking to another human confidently. There shouldn’t have to be studies released about the negative affects smartphones and face-to-face communication.

So why not take a day to admire your surroundings?

Take the Airpods out and enjoy the life around you.

Avoid being a “zombie walker” and look at what’s around you. The earth has so much to offer and blocking it out is something that people do too often.

I know Kendrick Lamar or Kanye West’s music is pure gold, which is also subject for debate, but the earth has so much to offer you.