Skip to main content

Take time to really connect

Did you last notice your friend's crazy new haircut because they posted new photos on their Facebook page? In this world of crazy speed-typers who can shoot out IMs, texts and emails faster than you can say, "Where's my pencil?", when was the last time you really connected with someone? Sat down for an in-depth conversation that wasn't dotted with acronyms and abbreviations. Better yet, pulled out some stationery, a nice pen and (gasp!) a stamp to write a letter to someone in Far, Far Away.

Leo at Zen Habits recently posted ideas on breaking away from our self-imposed schedules and just enjoying life. He's really good at that enjoying life thing, and I read his blog to hopefully get better myself. But one of his ideas really struck home with me, and even though I'm addicted to writing letters, I really should do this more.
Take time to talk and connect How many times have you run into a friend or family member, said a quick hello, and then moved on because you were in a hurry? When did we lose touch with our fellow human beings? I believe that this is a key to our dehumanization, to our becoming robots: we no longer connect with other people as much as we used to do. We’ve lost the skills necessary to have an enjoyable, relaxed conversation. We’ve lost the institutions that encourage discussion and debate and thinking and participation. Instead, we watch TV and stare at the computer and sit in our cubicles and our one-person cars and rarely if ever make human contact. This separation disempowers us (if that’s even a word, but it should be), and makes us powerless and inhuman. Instead, next time you see someone you know (or even if you don’t know them), stop, breathe, smile, relax, talk, listen.

Leo's a smart guy and knows what he's talking about. Take a minute tonight and unplug, have a long conversation or write (not type) an overdue letter to someone who wants to know how you're doing.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

For those who excel at being human

My son is 15 years old. It's a strange age. He is starting to look like an adult. The discussions we have are like talking with an adult, albeit with slightly less life experience. I trust him to cook for himself on occasion and not burn the house down. And yet, at 15, there are so many concerns that seem to hit teenagers harder than most adults. Am I smart enough? Do I look good enough? Am I funny enough? Do people like me? Most people need reminders of the things they do well. It's hard to see when it's something that is part of you and you do it every day. This is even more true for the students in your life. They are wrestling with worries about their future as well as their present. Finals. College entrance exams. Scholarship essays. Scholarship rejection letters. Instagram vacation pictures. Snapchat snide comments. Athletic personal records that surpass theirs. So many ways to feel like they are not enough. And yet, they are still studying. Still trying. Still ac...
Post a Comment
Read more

It's All About Style

I'm a terrible sister. The fact that I haven't talked to my sister in months in no way means I don't care about her, her life or my nephew's latest Evel Knievel stunt. I blame a lot of things for my lack of talk-talk with my sister -- crazy schedules, current addiction to social networking sites, Harry Potter. But I think the real reason is much more psychological (aren't all the good reasons psychological?). Communication style. I'm a writer. She's a talker. I pick up a pen and paper or a keyboard. She picks up the phone. I think to talk. She talks to think. We are opposite communicators and therefore we have trouble connecting. This happens in all facets of life. Your boss. Your coworker. Your friends. Your lover. People communicate differently and unless you can give them information in the medium they digest it best, they probably will only get half the story. But if you can pick up on and cater to those communication styles, you are much more likely to ...
2 comments
Read more

This week's thank you: the person who ties your shoes

Photo courtesy of Peter Hershey on Unsplash CC 0 Next time you tie your shoes, slow down and really watch your fingers move. See how complex the movements are just to get your shoes to stay on your feet. And you do that without even thinking. How many times a day do you disparage yourself? Feel like you aren't good enough. Like you should have done better. Known better. Do you do it so often you don't even realize you are doing it? And yet, you do so many things each day that makes other people's lives better and makes the world better. You tip the waiter. You serve your clients with empathy. You smile and hold the door for someone. These things may seem small to you, but they can make the difference in someone's day. How many times each year do you surprise yourself by doing something you didn't think you were capable of? Running that extra mile? Successfully completing that difficult project? Starting that side business that's been bouncing ...
Post a Comment
Read more