Communication is ever changing. We started with telegraph, then on to telephones, then cell phones, now smart phones. I had to ask Paul the other day what was considered a smart phone. For those of you that don't know, it is a phone that has internet capabilities. We have iphones, ipod touches, ipads and laptops. We can talk to each other through texts, Facebook and Skype. We are an extremely technological savvy culture. With all this technology how much do we really communicate?
I pick up a group of teenagers and they are sitting next to one another in the car, all texting to someone else. They come over to my house to hangout; watch movies or play video games and yet they are communicating with another friend, somewhere else. My son plays video games connected to another friend, at his house. I am fixing dinner in the kitchen listening to their conversations, yet there is only one boy in my family room. It all seems so surreal. With all this capability to be connected, to be in relationship, are we really?
Do you miss something when you don't hear a voice on the other end? Can things be read into a text or an email that is not meant or intended? I ask my daughter often, why don't you just pick up the phone and call that person. Her response is, we don't do that any more. Why is that? Isn't it quicker to spend 2 minutes on the phone versus 30 minutes of three words texts? We are all so busy doing so many things at once, it is quicker to text or email instead of the picking up the phone and calling. The person might answer and then you will get into a full blown conversation that could last a long time. I wonder what relationships of this generation will look like in the future. Will everyone meet their future spouses through online applications? Are we becoming so advanced that we won't know how to work through a disagreement or share the most joyous moments face to face so you can see the expressions on the other person's face? Will kids have the communication skills to be able to walk into a job interview and have confidence?
I have been thinking about how different life will look in the future. While FB is a great way to stay connected to people who live far away and I often have great chats late at night with friends, family or kids who need encouragement, I wonder how close we will be in the future. Will we have close families? Will our kids speak to us only through technology? We all long for human touch. Will the technology drive us into lonely islands and steal time and energy that we could spend in meeting our greatest needs and for the needs of others?
How can we balance life between technology and living life like we used to "in person"? Pick up the phone once in awhile instead of using your keyboard. Invite a friend out to lunch instead of sending an email. There are huge rewards in giving or receiving a hug or positive verbal words. Go out on a date with your spouse or special someone. By spending quality time with the people you love, whether it is a friend or family member, you are building relationships beyond three letter acronyms. I think if you think about it, you would rather have a few people who know and love you deeply rather than 354 friends who only know you by the status' you post every once in awhile.
