Connection is a lost art.
In the technological age we have moved so far away from one another that we hardly take time out to connect anymore. I'm guilty as charged, scrolling through my iphone in search of messages and updates, photos and articles. Seated in the local diner, I can easily be a party of one - fully engaged in a fascinating tech-conversation with my phone, enjoying a nice salad for lunch and texting four friends at once.
Remember life before the internet? For some it may be a hazy memory but we all functioned just fine. Don't get me wrong, it's not that I dislike the internet, I think a lot of good has come about as a result of technology but there is one issue that technology presents -- we are forced to make choices about when and how we want to connect with others. That's right, the ball is in our court! Depending on who you are this can be either a blessing or a curse but for most people I know, it's not working in their favor. Texting is so easy and going on facebook to look at photos makes you feel like you've watched the infant grow into a toddler overnight when in fact five years has actually passed. Many of us have stopped reaching out to one another.
I think it's imperative in this day and age to find a balance. To ensure that you maintain tangible, positive relationships with friends and family outside of the virtual box. It's important that you still get offline and outside to breathe in the fresh air and smell the rain.
So how do we make a change? If you're anything like me the best kinds of changes are small, simple and easy. I suggest that you ask a friend to meet you at a local cafe for coffee or tea at some point within the next week. Make sure during this meetup your phone is turned off so that you can be fully engaged and present. Be sure to connect and to breathe...take in the experience and remember life is not happening behind a screen, it's in our daily connections.
I can assure you of one thing, when you and your friend are laughing or in tears over a good cup of jo, you will recall why it is essential to unplug every now and then, and "to get back to the garden."
