#Communicating and #Connecting
Communicating is one of the most important things we do in our lives and yet I feel we take it for granted. Today we have more methods of communicating with each other than ever before. We can communicate one on one, or to hundreds of thousands, or even millions of people. But somehow I don't feel that the connections are being made like they used to.
Today as I was walking back home I saw a mother and her son speaking to each other. It made me smile. I see and hear parents speaking to their kids all the time, but this was different. They were using sign language to speak to each other. More importantly you could see the connection and reaction to those words on their faces. The smiles, the speed of the signing to show emphasis, the intent look and concentration they had on their faces as they spoke to each other. I could almost see a physical connection between their "words".
We communicate with our fellow human beings to tell a story, share feelings, and experiences, in essence make a connection. We have so many words coming at us from so many sources every day, short and long. We absorb these words with our eyes, ears, and yes, even touch, but how many of these words build a connection? Do they make us think? Do they teach us, and make us want to share what we have learned? Do they touch us as humans, create feelings, and make us grow? I think less and less.
As I continued to walk I saw other parents speaking to their kids, as their kids glanced or stared at phones, tablets, or other devices of communications. I didn't see the connection, I didn't see a physical manifestation of the words being spoken as I did before. I didn't see the connection.
As we utilize technology to make our lives more efficient and productive, we shouldn't forget about how important words are when we talk to one another without distractions. Emails, text messages, Twitter, and Facebook, all of these words displayed on a screen cannot make a connection. They are just words, lacking the passion, the importance, and the emotions that surround these words when we look into peoples' eyes and talk with our voices.
I love technology and have always embraced it with open arms, but I also recognize that innovation and technology should augment aspects of our lives, not replace them.
I smiled when I saw that mother and son talking to each other because I thought to myself; there will never be distractions or half hearted conversations between them. They will always understand the importance and true meaning of communication. They will continue to strengthen their connection with each other, and share that with others.
