Dear Reader:
We know the world is changing when we sit in a waiting room…any waiting room….and watch the vast majority of the other “waiters” either reading or sending messages on their IPhone or (in a few cases) IPad. I find it harder and harder to make contact (visually or verbally) with anyone in the room.
I am the one usually flipping through magazines since I turn my Iphone off before entering medical buildings for appointments so I won’t forget. Other days I simply look around the room at the other people around me and wonder what their story is….particularly cancer patients. There should be a strong bond between us but the Iphones and Ipads set up a pretty formidable barrier to actual conversation.
Perhaps there ought to be a required course for graduation in our public high schools and colleges/universities called ” Take Time to Tune Out.” The course should teach PR skills, interpersonal skills (like conversation) and decision-making skills concerning time away from tech communication. This can involve trips, camping, sight-seeing, exploring, athletic challenges and events, movies, concerts, opera, plays, gardening, reading, or just plain conversing with others, etc.
I feel a kind of sorrow for some of my fellow “waiters” …..like Dr. Seuss warned against…I feel that many are stuck in the “waiting place of life” and have stopped living life….just waiting on life to begin…hidden behind the security screen of tech gadgets.
Mobile users can’t leave their phone alone for six minutes and check it up to 150 times a day was the title of one magazine article I was reading while staring at my fellow waiting room comrades. After assessing the room…I think the title on the article was too generous with six minutes….maybe two.
There was a little child-like prankster voice deep inside me wondering what would happen if I jumped up and screamed “BOO!” as loudly as I could. Then while everyone stared at me strangely I would introduce myself by saying my grandchildren call me “Boo”…now what’s your name?
My adult inner voice over-ruled “Little Becky” but I found myself smiling inwardly at the images playing out in my mind.
I used to turn on the morning shows before heading out to the garden, each day, but not now….I really don’t want to start my day with terrorism and politics….strange bedfellows. Intolerance seems to have taken hold of too much of American life and it is too upsetting for me to watch. Bias, prejudice, arrogance and intolerance to others….when did these attributes become acceptable behavior? When did scowling replace smiling and pointing fingers replace shaking hands?
My way to “tune out” is to go to my garden. My morning glories are there to welcome me and introduce me to the newest members of the family….which grows larger every day…just like my ginger shell plant.
And now in the evenings, instead of ending my days with chaos and shouting matches on television, I can welcome a beautiful moon flower bloom in my garden.
So until tomorrow….Let us all learn to tune out our world when it gets too loud to even think and instead, spend that time in God’s Wonderland of Beauty and Peace. Plant a flower, bush or tree to let the world know humanity can be quiet, soft-spoken and capable of being good stewards of this earth.
“Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh
I took Ben to Oscars for his birthday while he was in Summerville yesterday and today he is heading over to Lee and Vikki’s ….it is Vikki’s birthday on the 26th, along with Ben. Happy Birthday Ben….it’s nice to have a “Big Bro!”
ichaseferalcats
John Turner
Legally Ohm
Becky Dingle
Reading this blog hit home really hard today, Mrs. Dingle! In the not so far past, I saw people staring at their phones in waiting rooms and everywhere. My children would come to visit and say hello then immediately pick up their phones and conversation was over. I also am with you on the Politics and terrorism, Givernment corruption, and people becoming more divided everyday. I was outside of all of the above looking in and now I have been swallowed up by it all! Thank you for this subject in today’s blog. My eyes are opened now to what I have let myself become and I have to stop! I before, never spoke of Politics, and considered every person a friend and tried to never let one persons actions influence my opinion of any group of people. I have become one of the scowling people with the phone in my face and it saddens me. How I got here, I don’t really know. I just know, thanks to your blog this morning that I have to go back to me old me, my normal me. God bless you Mrs. Dingle for seeing these trends and writing about them. I start today being the person I am supposed to be before I allowed myself to be swallowed by what seems to be an evil of sorts. I believe that there are a multitude of people that have been swallowed u by the evil and that feeds the problems we face today. A large part of the people in this Country have become pessimists and scowling people, we all need to come back to our senses and do as commanded by God and love one another or the problems will continue to grow. I am going to do my part in making it better starting today.
Johnny….you are not alone. I wrote this blog to remind myself of who I am also. It is so easy to get caught up in social “waves” and end up going under being pulled down by the undertow of intolerance to our fellow man. The last and most important commandment by Jesus was to love our fellow man….not treat them as subordinates and/or piranha. We are expected to keep the communication lines open to discussions, not build fences to separate and categorize human society.
IT takes each of us to climb out of the twirling, turbulent waters pulling us under, dry off and go shake someone’s hand. Welcome to the human race….how can I help you. Thank you for your honesty and courage….you are a true leader.
Hi Becky,
I’m late in reading today; usually this way on Sundays. But anyway, I just thought your topic today was – sadly – spot on. You cannot go anywhere without seeing everyone with their noses in their phones or Ipads. Restaurants, libraries (!!!), grocery store, park – just about everywhere!! Doctors’ offices, as you said. Believe it or not, I have NOT seen this “ubiquitous habit” at church! Maybe I should say, “not yet.” But it IS a sad state of affairs. I was thoroughly tickled at the thought of you jumping up and saying “BOO!” Hehehe
It’s also so sad about the so-called news on TV; as you stated – just so full of pessimism, terror, and shouting. I’m really and truly frightened by the prospect of whichever candidate wins this upcoming election. [Have a sidebar on principles on this for you. One of my sons was a NC Rep. Delegate to the RNC this past week; he’s a Cruz supporter through and through, so he thought Cruz’s speech was fine. Well, he’d “hitched” a ride to Cleveland w/the Chairman of the NC Rep. Party via his private airplane, and that guy told my son that b/c of his view on Cruz’s speech and refusal to support Trump, my son could find another way back to Durham!! My son stated: “principles over politics/party.” I don’t necessarily agree with everything he stands for, but I am proud that he stood up for his own principles, at the expense of his getting back home.] Just one small indication of a principled person.
I can’t claim to be as principled as my son is, but I DO have my own principles to which I try to adhere, often amidst all the brouhaha of today’s world. It’s NOT easy to stay “up” and smiling when you hear all the constant noise and negativity and shouting and berating of people and so on.
Excellent blog to make all of us think and to make those thoughts more upbeat and positive!
Much love,
Sis
Sis….the position your son was put in is what is alarming me….the “party” over personal ideals scares me. The rally of “Party at all costs” reminds me too much of “Just following orders” for the destruction of six million Jews. God gave us each a brain and heart to do what is morally right for each individual….not party right. Sad state of affairs…I just pray God will help lead us out of this mess before we have to endure and witness the fall of a dysfunctional government.
Sage advice, Becky. Your morning glories are beautiful!