Can You Connect Again Like the Good Old Days?
Or are you stuck in the “Jetson’s Age” forever?
The other day my car had to be serviced due to a leaky part. While seated in the waiting room, I was told that the computers were down and it would be a little longer wait than they expected. The mechanics had to check on my part in their intranet, but of course, they couldn’t find out what parts were available, since the system was down.
The waiting room was peaceful with an imaginary aquarium full of colorful fish, floating high above our heads on the 60 inch screen TV. The soothing sounds of classical music playing in the background relaxed me. Who needs real fish? LOL (Gotta love technology eh?)
Which brings me to my point. The only other person in the room with me flipped through a magazine and looked up to say, “Isn’t it a shame how much we rely on technology? How we can’t do much without it?”
Joseph (I’d soon find out) was waiting for the computers to come back on so he could resume his work in the finance department of the Acura Dealership. We discussed how far we’ve come as a society with technology, yet thought about how much better off we might be without it. It’s one of those Catch 22 situations. Even though technology has made life quicker and easier for us, in many ways it hinders quality communication and building solid relationships from forming.
“We probably would not have even met if weren’t for the computers shutting off”, Joseph joked.
We thought back to the days way before the early 90’s when we were probably just a tad smarter as a society. Well, dare say a lot smarter.
Ponder this for a moment…
• How many people’s phone numbers do you actually know by heart as compared to before cell phones invaded our lives? (Or for those born before the 80’s…back to when we had to use payphones. ~Yuck, shivers at the thought.~ LOL)
• Or how about when spell check was something you did with a real live dictionary. Yes, the ones with pages.
I remember saying, “Mom, how do you spell…”
Even if she knew the answer, “Get the dictionary, Simone!,” she’d yell back.
I’d say, “Awh Ma, how can I look it up if I don’t know how to spell it?” …And that my friends made us smarter. We learned a lot from searching didn’t we? ☺
Come on, we must have used just a bit more brain power back then. Have we become lazy, because of technology? Today we’re living the push-button-and-go lifestyle. Are we the JETSONS OR WHAT? Aside from the flying cars, we pretty much have almost all the bells and whistles the cartoonists dreamed about when they created that cartoon from microwaves to video phones.
I Remember When…
Sorry to say, that gone are the days of quality connections…unless maybe you live in a small town that is. However, there’s still hope. There are a few folks out there holding on and trying to keep real communication going. Folks trying to inspire community in all that they do.
My hats off to you all who take the time to send a hand-written thank you card, who stop and talk to a neighbor for even five minutes. Those who actually call someone back when they call you instead of replying with a rushed text message. To those who call up family members to check up on them instead of waiting until they are on their death bed to pay a visit. ~Ouch! Yes, I went there!~ Hey..you know it’s true!
Sooooo, Mr. Buzzin’ BlackBerry and Ms. I’msoDarnBusy…I got a little test for you. Are you up for The Flintstone Challenge?
Try to take it back to the past. You might feel like you’re in the stone ages, but so what. It’s time to connect on a deeper level with your fellow man.
~ Sappy violin music starts.~ Awh man, somebody get me a Kleenex!
TRY FLINTSTONE CHALLENGE!
PICK AT LEAST ONE THING TO DO IN THE NEXT WEEK AND SEE HOW YOU FEEL!
1. Write a REAL letter (with a pen). Remember the ones that have stamps and envelopes? Let an old friend or significant other know how much you miss them. Give them an update on what’s need and exciting in your life. If you really want to take it back, throw in an old photo of you two together.
2. Be alone with yourself and really enjoy Numero Uno. Spend quiet time on a park bench, in the library, a museum, etc. Journal, read a good book, meditate. Enjoy being in the moment with your thoughts. (No cell phones or T.V. aloud)
3. Try a Mind Cleanse…No TV at ALL. See how long you can do. If you don’t have the shakes after day one, be a big shot and shoot for three. Lol In exchange…write more and read more. See how much you can actually learn without the boob tube on.
4. Here’s a big one…stop by and visit a neighbor or if you don’t know the neighbor’s name….say, “It’s a shame, we haven’t formally introduced ourselves. My name is Mr. BlackBerry, so good to meet you!”
5. Oh boy, I Iied,THIS is the big one especially for BlackBerry addicts. DON’T CHECK YOUR EMAIL FOR ……………………wait for it…………..
an ENTIRE DAY! I know, devastating for some of you guys. I actually feel like I’m on vacation when I don’t check my email. LOL It’s great, try it!
6. Be a Goodie Two Shoes and help save the world! Volunteer to teach a class at a local community, help out at an animal shelter, assist the homeless, work in a domestic violence shelter, or help out at a church after school program.
Can you do it? Try and slow down for a few and reconnect with what’s truly important. ~Sappy violin music ends~
Come back here and post your results or your thoughts. I’d love to hear from you!
Own Your Power! Yabba Dabba Doooooo!!!!
(Okay that was a bit much, but I couldn’t help myself!)
Simone
Our empowering blog is packed full of insightful information, small biz tips, profiles, lifestyle and wellness tips, events, and a few laughs. For over 12 years we've been helping entrepreneurs and we'll help YOU transform your passion into the Lifestyle YOU Deserve! OWN YOUR POWER COMMUNICATIONS
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Karin
November 14th, 2008 at 10:21 am
Love it love it love it! You go Simone!
Yes, please take the Flintstone challenge. As a matter of fact, I think I’ll send it to my readers and clients.
By the way, stepping away from electronic crutches also makes you more productive, your thoughts more thoughtful, your analysis deeper. Good all around (even though I do love my cell phone, email and a couple of other really nice gadgets. :-)).
Yours in Daily Mastery,
Karin
Capri
November 14th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Don’t knock it, there are definite advantages to technology or I wouldn’t even be writing letters to people at all. The computer with a screen-reader enables you to correspond with people and write documents, invoices etc. and receive same, even if you don’t have good eyesight. It doesn’t cost money to send an email or a Facebook message. It does cost to send a hand-written or typed letter by post, and it does cost long distance to call somebody in Chicago when you live in California.
It is nice to talk to friends and family in person, but people are difficult to get hold of by phone or else the time just isn’t right when the call comes in. So, to avoid the risk of inconveniencing someone, it’s just better sometimes to send them an email that is not a chain letter forward of course, but a note typed up by you. It’s certainly a better method than trying to make a well-timed phone call across the world.
In the days of lower-tech, I had to rely on cassettes for my music collection, including stuff I needed for my work. Then it was cds. Now, thanks to mp3 players and ipods, one doesn’t have to lug a huge pile of cds or cassettes around when travelling if they prefer their own music collection to whatever comes on the radio. Just an ipod that fits in a pocket can hold my music and that includes what I listen to for pleasure and what I need to review for my job.
As for people sending chain letters, the old postage variety has pretty much died out, but it is unfortunate the internet is full of them in any form imaginable. Don’t blame technology for that one, blame laziness and especially gullibility.
Hasan
November 15th, 2008 at 11:59 am
I must say this is quite witty. But very real. I give myself some credit for remembering phone numbers, but like the rest of soicety i too depend on technology too much… I’m up for the Flintstones Challenege.
EMPEROR SNAPPER (Joe)
November 18th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
“Don’t knock it, there are definite advantages to technology or I wouldn’t even be writing letters to people at all.”
I could not agree more with Capri.
Meeting Simone was delightful and I owe that chance to broken technology. Simone, I found your blog so well written that it was worth the wait. We engaged in conversation the day that we met that would not probably have taken place if the intranet in my dealership was not down.
Sitting across from Simone in the quite comfort of our waiting room at Acura of Pembroke Pines was a luxury that I don’t often indulge in.
I soon realized how engaging and funny Simone was but I had no idea that she was so talented a writer.
She surprised me when she left me a message in my voice mail a few days ago to let me know that she had finally finished the blog. She actually practices what she preached, a rare occurrence these days.
Capri, I am with you all the way, I want more technology but only to enhance our lives. I have stopped emailing (if this is a verb) anyone who sends me “fw:” as a mean to communicate their feelings. I am fortunate to have big hands and big fingers which make it very difficult to “text messaging” I would be the guilty one to preferably would want to pick the phone and just call and if it is the wrong time (which I always ask by the way) and I know, I am calling a close friend, a family member, and associate, I am prepare to hear “hey Joe could you call me back or could I call you the minute I am free”. (Some friends or family members, can mean days.) (LOL)
Simone, you have a captivated reader.
Joe @ Acura of P.P.