Yesterday, I watched Brian Williams conduct a short interview with President Clinton. The President told Brian that his family had gotten their first television when he was ten years old. His generation was "a storytelling generation". By that he meant that his family talked to each other and learned from people retelling stories to one another. For the first ten years of his life, there was no television. He expressed concern that today's generation who texts on an average of 80 times a day are missing out on what is really important. I completely concur with President Clinton.
Recently, I was involved in an altercation at a restaurant. I witnessed a mom,dad, and 3 teenage children at a dinner table. All were on their IPhones while chowing down. Everyone was looking down. No one was interacting. I thought this was sad and depressing. I long for the days when my (now 28 and 31 year old) daughters sat at the dinner table with me and their dad telling us all about the day. We discussed politics, work, school, and family. It was my most favorite time of the day! So, Getting back to the family at the restaurant, I realized I had absolutely no right to interfere, but I just couldn't help myself. I told the dad what a beautiful family he had. I told him how lucky he was to have them and how lucky they were to have two wonderful parents. AND, I told him what a shame it was, that noone was enjoying the moment. Although he agreed, his wife was extremely angry that I interfered. And she was correct-I had no right to say anything. But, I couldn't stop thinking about the sadness of the scene.
The next day my husband and I witnessed a grandfather and his grandson out for a sunday night dinner. The grandfather was playing on his IPhone while the grandson stared into space. Again, I thought there was so much they could be learning from one another, and so much joy they could be getting from this moment. Instead, silence ensued.
A third example I recently watched was a young teen coming into a salon for a pedicure. Shortly after she began to soak her feet, her mom came in and sat in the adjacent seat to also get a
pedicure. Immediately, they both took out their phones and began texting at breakneck speed. I never saw fingers move so fast. I was again profoundly sad viewing them. Here was a perfect moment where a mom and daughter could have interacted and discussed their day. Neither had any interest in doing that. How could this little phone have more importance than talking to your mom or your child or your grandchild?
I am about to become a grandma for the first time. I am about to celebrate my 35th Anniversary. I have a great husband and marriage. I have two amazing healthy parents. I am proud of my two fabulous daughters and son in laws. I love my siblings, nieces, and nephews. I WANT to be in the MOMENT. I want to experience all these fabulous people and all they have to offer. I ALWAYS look forward to spending time with them and learning from them. I can't imagine being more blessed and I am so thankful everyday.
True-many of my friends make fun of my technological incompetence! I actually cherish it! My phone is just my phone. A camera is just a camera. A book is just a book. Yes, I do text on occasion but because it is the only way I can get my daughters to respond quickly! Truthfully, technology often gets it wrong. Think about your phone. When you spell socks, it spells sex. Or you say Disney and it hears divorce. Or how many times does your GPS tell you to go the wrong way? And Siri isn't all that smart or nice! I am tired of automated answering machines when you are trying to get to your dr. or questioning a bill. Enough already. I don't want to hold for 30 minutes just to be told to leave a name and number for someone to return my call. Can't we just go back to people talking to one another face to face? To really listening to what someone is saying? If I see one more person walking down the street texting and not watching where they are walking, OR speaking into the air on their bluetooth and not making eye contact with another person on the street, on the bus, in the store, or on the train, I feel I will scream.
Please take the time to LIVE IN THE MOMENT. Believe me, there's nothing better out there than what you have in front of you this very second. Stop and Smell the roses......it is soooo worth it.
No comments:
Post a Comment