If you ask anyone from the ages of 10 - 35 what time is it - they don't look at their watches - they look at their cell phone for the answer. Have you ever noticed that?
If you drive down the street and look at the drivers in the cars next to you - they are talking on their phones - not looking at the road in front of them. Have you ever noticed that?
If you go to a restaurant and observe the patrons sitting around you - they are surfing the web or texting their friends - not talking to the people at the table with them. Have you ever noticed that?
One more for fun. If you have to connect with a prospect or update a client of a product or service - you email them instead of picking up the phone and calling them or getting in the car to go see them. Have you ever noticed that?
Now I am not saying that we shouldn't use every resource we have to live a more efficient life. I don't believe in wasting time just for times sake. Heck - I even coach my clients to use their time more efficiently in order to be able to get more done. But what I do notice is that we have gone from a society of relationship builders and maintainers to a society of "get it done as quickly as possible so that I can get to the next person" people.
What if we just focused on the people in front of us? What if we gave the gift everyone of us desires and deserves - the gift of undivided attention. What if we made a little less money - but we impacted peoples life more positively - MORE. What if we just put down that phone during a family meal and asked our kids how they are doing?
I know that earning a living and being more efficient is important. But is it more important than raising good kids, than being a good spouse, than loving our neighbors?
I hope you all consider this today - as you start a busy work week. Where can you be more present in the lives of the people that matter most to you this week?
I just hope that once my boss reads this I don't get a "Jerry McGuire like" send off.
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Several months ago,I happened to come home when my local high school had just let out for the day. Even when my sons went to school there, kids came out of school in groups, talking and laughing with one another as they moved towards their cars or walked to the local fast food emporia, but on this day, even the kids walking in groups were oblivious to one another as they checked their messages or texted someone unseen. My travel through the neighborhood took me three-quarters of the way around the school so I saw lots and lots of kids but observed very little human interaction among them. I was seriously stunned at this by-product of technological 'progress.'
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Kristen. My step-son asked me this weekend, "What is worse- watching TV or playing video games?" I told him that both are not very good for you and should be allowed only for an hour or so a day. I explained that interacting with other people (your family, friends, etc...) teaches you how to interact and get along with other people. You cannot have a relationship with a TV or video game.
ReplyDeleteWe turn the TV off and have family dinners, we have discussions in the car, and do not allow video games, etc... to be played except for a small portion of the day. It is amazing how many kids are brought up with these "babysitting" technologies, and I know the parents have no clue that it is impacting their children in MORE than one way. What happens when they get old enough to interview for a job and have to interact and problem solve with clients and people, how will they communicate with others in relationships (spouses, their own children, friends, family)? We are creating a culture that does not need other people, and that is scary!