A reminder about actions we probably already know are not our best form.
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You’re in the presence of another; special time with your partner, out with friends, or in the middle of family time. It is time for catching up, talking, laughing but then there is this moment when someone reaches for their phone, no message sound, no ringing just a ‘check’. A few minutes pass as various apps are browsed. Sometimes the rest of the group does the same and there is this moment when you are all just sitting there on your phones in online land.
It doesn’t raise too many eyebrows anymore—you may think.
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Our online world has become an emotional attachment
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I have been guilty of this too, from being the one that has done the first reach and ‘check’ to shrugging my shoulders and figuring well everyone else is so I will too. I do try to keep it to a minimum and there have been times when I sit there as others go into online land around me, which isn’t a nice feeling, sitting there in their company, awaiting their presence to find your presence interesting enough again to rejoin you. Do we realize this is the message this sends?
Our online world has become an emotional attachment, a relationship in our life that is slowly suffocating the rest.
A recent date I was on was interrupted by the ding of a message. It was asked if I minded if it was checked which was then done quickly and the phone put back away. How great I thought, this is how it should be. The phones weren’t visible, the interruption it caused was was acknowledged.
We need to put this dependency back on the sideline where it belongs in the priorities of our lives. Sure, if you are in company answer the ringing phone or quickly check and respond if a message comes through, but nothing is worse then just tuning out of the company you are in to browse. Not at the times when we are all sitting around facing each other.
This behavior isn’t unique to women, men, partners, friends or family. I have watched all offend and all be hurt by these actions.
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The company we want to be in is one that appreciates ours, someone in full presence
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So put it away, give your attention and partake. Living life isn’t in the posting or your presence in online land, it is in this moment around you with those good mates, that amazing partner or family you have.
The company we want to be in is one that appreciates ours, someone in full presence—for in our wisdom we know these moments quickly pass us by.
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Photo:Flickr/Bark
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