While there are more opportunities to connect now than there ever has been in the history of the world, in a lot of ways we are more disconnected than we’ve ever been. More and more people are typing instead of talking. People are breaking up, spilling beans, and having “pseudo” relationships via text message. Personal business is being broadcasted on the loud-speaker of the world wide web, every second of every day.
The ego has finally found its ideal platform… the internet.
A constant barrage of pictures and posts that scream “validate me,” “like me,” and “see me… please.” Scrolling through posts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumbler, and a bazillion other platforms, is like walking through a minefield. Wounded and broken hearts are seeking solace in the news feed of virtual strangers.
How did we get here?
Real human connection cannot be substituted. Yes, social media provides a convenient podium to share information, brainstorm ideas, and you may even develop some real + true friendships. However, it is not an ideal space to make passive aggressive stabs at your man or share the intimate details of your sex life.
We were designed to feel and experience the awesomeness of one another. Every square inch of the beautiful organ that is our skin was meant to be stroked, caressed, and fondled. The proverbial heart longs to experience authentic feelings. The internet is great for providing a temporary emotional fix, but the insatiability of the ego requires constant stimulation.
The world is sitting on a technological goldmine, I think the internet has made the world a smaller place, which is a beautiful thing. I love how easy it is to discover new and exciting things on the other side of the world; but we must be reminded that the engine that fuels this wondrous planet is the connectivity of every living, breathing organism.
You + Me = Us + We
It’s time for us to reconnect with what’s real. An in-person conversation trumps 140 characters, all day long. If you can’t talk face-to-face, Skype is the next best thing, and if that isn’t an option, pick up the damn phone for goodness sake.
Remember when we used to kiss cheeks and shake hands? I know that was a long time ago, before hand sanitizer and germaphobia became an epidemic, but your skin still remembers what it feels like to touch another person. It hasn’t forgotten that touch generates feel good hormones that provide the most incredible high (yes, even better than medicinal Mary Jane).
Go out and touch someone – literally. Hug everyone you know. Brush a shoulder. Hold a hand. Make eye contact. Smile, your face loves that and strangers dig it too.
Turn off the electronics and be wherever you are. In the room. At the table. In the bed. In the moment.
We are all waiting for you to come back…
“The present is a gift, that’s why they call it the present.” (click to tweet)