Warm Connections {Day 9}: Technology Versus People
I caught myself. Guilty!
As I was standing in line at the grocery store, cell phone in one hand, fingers moving quickly while emailing in the other hand, I suddenly felt disconnected.
I felt disconnected to the person who was serving me, ringing up my groceries, helping me, working as quickly as possible to get me through the line and on my way and out the door.
It felt odd.
I looked up, put my phone down, and then I apologized.
I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be on my phone while checking out. How rude of me!
I’m not sure what’s happened to our society, but I’m just as guilty as anyone. I’ve caught myself several times doing the above, and it feels yucky. So impersonal, so disrespectful, so rude.
From now on I am going to try to be more aware of the people around me, rather than the technology in my hand.
And then I had a moment last week of “connecting.” I work part time at a very cool design store in southern Oregon, and see many wonderful people come through the doors.
This warm fall afternoon a little lady came in with 2 bags on her arm. She was tiny, small bones, dressed very fashionable, and you could just tell she knew what she wanted. She was kind, had a twinkle in her eye, asked me a few questions, and then she set her bags down and opened one up.
I have something for you.
I felt like a little girl waiting for a one-cent piece of candy.
Inside the bag she pulled out the most beautiful heirloom tomato I had ever seen and offered it to me.
What happened next felt right.
We had the warmest conversation. A true connection. I found myself loving the dialogue with this complete stranger.
Face time. One-on-one.
I brought the tomato home, took a quick picture, and then I set it out in the sun to warm up, as if it were picked off the vine.
Warmer connections come when we stop what we are doing and engage with others, even with complete strangers.
You never know when you will brighten someone’s day, even in the grocery line.
Does technology ever get in the way of your personal contact with others?
If you missed previous days to 31 Days of Warm Connections …
Day 1 (and 700 31 Day Bloggers): Secret Ingredient to Warmer Connections
Day 2: Bringing the Beauty of Autumn to Your Table
Day 3: Multi-Generational Pear Applesauce
Day 4: Canning Suncrest Peaches with a Friend
Day 5: How to Find Contentment
Day 6: Encouragement with Easy Pear Cobbler
Day 7: Bush’s Garbanzos, Chicken, and Quinoa Soup for a Sports Family
Day 8: More About Others
Hello and welcome to my home and table!
I’m Sandy—lover of food, family, cooking, THE BIG BOARD, travel, and bringing people together. Through great recipes and connection around the table, we become better, stronger, and more courageous people. Feasting on Life is real, and every time we do it, we grow a little more. Read more...
So true. Thank you for posting this :) This is exactly why I have reduced my Facebook account to just my family overseas and deleted twitter and linkedin. Our phone company recently upgraded my phone as mine was on the ‘old’ network and I made sure that i got the most basic one I could so I wouldn’t be tempted to check my email at inappropriate times. In the first week that I became ‘unplugged’ from social media I had such a fantastic week because I did actually connect with people and I have had to entertain because I can’t just keep up with my friends on facebook and survive without seeing them for ages. I wish more people would come to this realization and I thank you for your posts. I wouldn’t want to live with some of the conditions our grandparents had to back in wartime but I would like to live with their philosophy of life. Simple and connected :)
Exactly! Last week I began a little experiment on myself to find out if I could concentrate on just one thing at a time because it annoys the life out of me when others with whom I interact are distracted. I call it my one thing at a time experiment on the blog.
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Maybe you were…”entertaining an angel unaware.” Hmmm.
Regarding your question, my husband and I often sit side-by-side reading or typing away on our laptops, not speaking for an hour at a time. I often wonder about that as well.
I love this post and the heirloom tomato lady. I don’t answer my phone when I am in line at the grocery store or any store because I think it’s rude. I love all things technology but when I am with others it stays in my purse, my car or my pocket. ANd yes…I do get chastised by my family for not always answering my phone but I am enjoying the time with whomever I am with and I know they want that same attention. Now if I could get my one really good friend to put hers away when I am with her…I’d be a happy camper!!
BTW…your trip to Montana looks amazing!!
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the grocery store check-out is one of my favorite face-time opportunities. i always make a point to make small talk with the checker and make sure our transaction ends with both of us smiling. i don’t want to be just another customer- it’s my personal goal to be the customer that made him/her smile that day. great story – thanks for sharing & inspiring.
I wish this could be published on every blog, fb page, and newsletter…..I am so tired of people constantly looking at their phones as if the most important news was going to appear any second.
THANK YOU!!!!