Lost…the Art of Joyful Conversation

Have you ever wondered whatever happened to simple conversation – without the use of a cell phone or some other form of electronics? I am as guilty of it as the next person. Someone texts you with the words, “Call Me…” and you’re thinking “What?! Call You?!” This is how bad it has become. We have time to do a lengthy text, but no time to talk?

This constant, tiresome obsession with cellular communication instead of the fine art of time-proven good conversation. Well – personally – I’ve had enough of it – and doing a lot of soul searching as this is written. It is time to make constructive changes in my personal life because texting, messaging, and emailing as a matter of habit just isn’t a healthy lifestyle.

You’re never really with anyone because they’re constantly consumed with their cell phone. You’re in a restaurant with a friend or sitting at home with family member and it’s like you’re not even there. They’re so engrossed with this handheld device to the point to where you get up and leave the room and they don’t even notice you are gone.

This preoccupation with cell phones and electronic devices is an acute form of sociological mental illness. You see it everywhere. Televisions, cell phones, tablets, and other forms of electronics consume attention to where we aren’t even connected anymore. That’s exactly what the puppeteers want – electronic brainwashing because it works so well.

For a society so connected – we are so very disconnected.

Remember when Blackberry pagers were known as “Crackberries?” The cell phone has become an unhealthy form of emotional addiction. It divides people much as social media has. We have all kinds of courage to be rude and insulting on a keyboard – that is until we meet the person face to face. Then, we’re falling all over ourselves apologizing – however, the damage is done.

What to do about this if you’re on the outside or so obsessed with cell phone communication that you can’t put yours down? You’re going to have to go at it cold turkey and begin the withdrawal process by putting yours down. Leave it in the next room or hidden in your car. Encourage those around you to put theirs down too. Good luck on that one because the addiction is deep.

It has become so absurd to where if you don’t respond immediately, the sender goes off the deep end emotionally. Forget explaining to them the days when you would leave a message to expect to wait for a response. We want that response right now. Consider the days when you’d write a letter (I miss getting letters) and it could be weeks before you’d see a response.

I often wonder…what did we do before we had cell phones, tablets, and laptops? We walked down the street or picked up the landline.