Are You Connected?

Let me be the first to say that technology is amazing. Just to think how far we’ve come in the last 25 years blows my mind. It seems like the goal of technology is to make things more efficient and to make it easier for us to connect with one another. It has certainly made it more time effective to share a message or a thought with someone or to find needed information. But I wonder, has it really made me more connected?

There was a time when the only way for the average person to communicate with someone was to physically go to that person and be in their presence. With the invention of the telephone, people were able to speak right away but they weren’t able to see each other. As technology continued to advance, we got emails and text messaging. Now if we want to “speak” to someone, we can hold the entire conversation without really knowing if we are communicating with our intended target. Technology has connected us so tightly that we’ve lost connection. I’m afraid we may be missing something.

There are certainly great benefits to the technological advances but I wonder what the cost is. I’m a little ashamed to admit that there have been occasions that I have sent a message to someone that was in the same house, or even in the same room as me. I realize we can’t move backwards. I do not intend to jump on a horse and ride to a loved one’s house to ask them if they use one or two eggs in a favorite recipe. So, how do we find balance between staying up with the world and not lose connection with those around us?

I think the first step is unplugging ourselves from all of the electronics interference. Not all day, maybe not even every day. But we need to take time to actually be with people. Sitting down in real life, with a real person that you can see and hear and touch. Having an actual conversation. When you make a witty remark you can actually wink instead of using an emoji. When you feel joy you can LOL with them. We are social creatures and i believe that we need human interaction. No text message can compare to a hug from my mom or getting to hear my sisters laughing.

Small steps can help us to draw closer. Simple rules like, no electronics at dinner, no electronics in the car, or placing a basket on the counter for everyone to place their smart devices when they come in the door are all good places to start. However, I think we can go one step further. We have to actually spend quality time together. Go outside and throw a football, play a board game or simply ask each other about their day. When they share, truly listen. I have met teenagers who are getting ready to go into college or the workforce that are highly intelligent and have great technical skills but don’t know how to carry on a conversation. I want to teach my kids how to love and interact with other people. In order to do that, I have to get off my phone, turn off the TV and spend some time really getting to know each other. Of course being able to FaceTime someone has helped bridge the gap for those loved ones who live far away. Technology has its place.

As I type this, the irony is not lost on me. I sit in a room by myself, putting thoughts and ideas into a machine in hopes that it will find others, perhaps sitting in a room by themselves reading my thoughts and ideas. It’s all about balance. I think tonight I will go home and make a focused effort to spend time, in person, with the real people in my life.