I've gotten much better at paying attention to nudges as I've aged. And no, I'm not referring to elbows or shoulder bumps, but the ones you just 'sense' and know they're meant specifically for you.
These recent nudges have centered around my overuse of social media and how darn much of my life it eats up. It's completely become second nature for me to pick up my phone, whenever or wherever, and just click or scroll away.
I've been getting nudged a lot lately, and felt another one during Sunday's
message on personal habits and making changes. Take a
listen for yourself. You may be nudged too. Then another one came while spending time at the surgery center yesterday (Mike's meniscus repair).
These sisters were waiting on their mom's surgery to be over and looked up from their phones only
one time (yes, I watched) in over an hour. And that was to show the other one something on her phone. I'm pretty sure this went on for quite a while longer, but I was called back.
It was a humbling sight. Because I've done exactly the same thing. Maybe not in that situation, but it still led me to do a stern self-evaluation regarding my time and my use of social media on my phone. It made me reflect on all the times I've spent with friends and family, and just nonchalantly grabbed my phone and sometimes (ok, often) scrolled the screen mid-conversation with them. Half listening, as if whatever is on that screen will disappear forever. Rude. So this is one area I will personally address
immediately. It's called
PUT YOUR PHONE DOWN.
And be honest here. A majority of you reading this have the same issue. Right? And I get it. It's tough. We live in a world where technology beckons us with immediate access, everything at our finger tips, Siri and/or Google promise to answer and solve everything, lives are lived and shared via free apps and the whole thing just sucks us in. It's so easy.
But what I've realized more and more as a result of these recent nudges is that my personal one-on-one conversations are few and far between. And I
miss them. I
miss hearing the voices of family and friends. I
miss being able to actually laugh - and hear them laugh back and feeling the passion and emotions that hearing a conversation conveys. Not messages where you have to guess if the all-caps are meant or a mistake. Not words via a text or IM, the ding or the dong of a message, but words I actually hear. And I know this goes two ways. So all I can do is start calling from my end and hope it will be answered on the other.
My dilemma now is going to be taking the steps to follow through with this confession/commitment. To unhinge myself from the apps and device that steals my time and relationships. And yes, as sad as it is, I know I'll have serious withdrawal, because like many other things, it's an addiction.
Ouch.
So. I realize this will be a shock to some (well, most) and others will doubt me like crazy (you already are). But to those I love and hold dear -
please use your phone to
call me. And
please answer when I call you. I know this means I may never hear from some of you again (Lol), but for those of you willing to help me get my life back, I promise I'll help you do the same in return. Join me?
Ok, I'm not good at cold-turkey, so this is my game plan. I'm tackling more than one a day and am totally looking forward to Saturday and Sunday!
So here goes . . . you'll never plow a field by turning it over in your mind.
Later ;)
Shelia
