Connect -- With and Without Technology!

My, how the world has changed in the last 30 years! We tend to filter our memories, looking back at the “good old days” with longing for a simpler life. Back then, if you were in the car, you were unreachable. Once you left work, you were disconnected – no pager, no cell phone, and no computer at home. Work had to wait until the morning. We enjoyed peace and quiet at home. Or at least that’s how we remember it!


The world has changed. And the sky has not fallen. We are connected 24/7 by our cell phones, tablets, and computers. We can always be reached, so we have compromised our privacy and our solitude. But we have also gained the chance to keep in touch with our family and friends in a way we never could back then. It is a great comfort to know that you can reach your family by text in an emergency. You can send a message of concern or a friendly greeting to people in places that were out of reach before. FaceTiming with grandchildren makes Grandma and Grandpa familiar, building strong family bonds across the generations.

Like any other tool, our technology is only as good as the person using it. Real communication requires us to actually be present, so it is important to know when to turn off all those devices. Turning off your phone sends the message that the person you are with is more important than anyone else, and you aren’t looking for a better offer!

This week a friend shared a story with me – a children’s book that retells a Tolstoy story. In “The Three Questions” the main character learns the lesson that: "There is only one important time, and that time is now. The most important one is always the one you are with. And the most important thing is to do good for the one who is standing at your side." --from The Three Questions (based on a story by Leo Tolstoy) by Jon J. Muth. Now, while you are thinking about it, send an uplifting message to a loved one!

Blessings,
Barb