Wednesday, October 9, 2019
At one of the business-women’s networking groups I belong to, we put our business cards in a dish and our cards are randomly drawn out in groups of three. One person in the group is put in charge and it is their job to coordinate a time and place for the three people to connect. Yesterday I met with a representative from a local, family-owned bank and an Edward Jones advisor for our connection.
I felt sorry for the woman who coordinated the connection because three or four times she sent us emails offering times to meet and each time the other woman and I were only available at opposite times. The coordinator finally sent an email asking for individual availability for the month and she found the one time our three, busy schedules could intersect.
I did not know either of these women very well. I have seen them several times at our monthly event; however, I have not been going regularly during the last year and have not really talked to either one at an event, so I did not know them by name and face before yesterday. The not knowing them by name and face is the whole point of the connections. Today when I go to our monthly event I get to say, “Hello, Patricia.” and “Hello, Krista.” when I see them; and I know a little more about them so we can have deeper conversations when we talk.
People seem to forget that personal connections feed our soul. I believe the high-tech world we live in now has stolen our souls. Do not misinterpret me; I love television, mobile phones (not that you can EVER call me on mine), the Internet, Netflix, and even social media (except Facebook); however, so many of us have let those TOOLS take over our lives and strip us of our humanity.
When was the last time you used your mobile phone to make a phone call instead of sending a text? I am pretty sure my 24-year-old daughter, Megan, only actually calls me and that is because I do not text. There are times a text is better than a phone call. When Megan travels, she sends me an email (because I do not text) every time she stops for gas or rest with an update of her location so if an issue comes up, I know where she was last. Megan emails me so she does not need to wake me up with a phone call. When Megan is traveling during the hours she is certain I am up and near my landline, she frequently calls me while on her gas break. She likes to have that personal connection while driving alone.
Humans need other humans. Even me (I am human although Megan thinks I am from another planet because I have two emotions; 96 percent positive and 100 percent positive.) I am happiest when I am alone, but that does not mean I do not still need that personal connection. I cannot ever remember a time when I was lonely. I think I am not lonely because even though I spend a lot of time alone, I go to networking events to visit with casual friends and meet new friends. I take my seven-year-old to playgrounds and other children’s places and talk to more people. I schedule “be with people” time and that proactively satisfies that basic connection need for me.
My piece of advice to you is to TALK to someone (not your family that lives in your house) casually for ten minutes every day. Make a list of five people at the beginning of each week you want to call just to say, “Hi. How have you been?” to. Strike up a conversation with two random strangers each week. Lift your face from your phone and say, “Hello.” to the person next to you in the checkout line. Ask your barista where she or he was born. Personal connection is not that difficult if we unplug long enough to do it.
Until next time,
Susanne
Please check out my GoFundMe page.
At one of the business-women’s networking groups I belong to, we put our business cards in a dish and our cards are randomly drawn out in groups of three. One person in the group is put in charge and it is their job to coordinate a time and place for the three people to connect. Yesterday I met with a representative from a local, family-owned bank and an Edward Jones advisor for our connection.
I felt sorry for the woman who coordinated the connection because three or four times she sent us emails offering times to meet and each time the other woman and I were only available at opposite times. The coordinator finally sent an email asking for individual availability for the month and she found the one time our three, busy schedules could intersect.
I did not know either of these women very well. I have seen them several times at our monthly event; however, I have not been going regularly during the last year and have not really talked to either one at an event, so I did not know them by name and face before yesterday. The not knowing them by name and face is the whole point of the connections. Today when I go to our monthly event I get to say, “Hello, Patricia.” and “Hello, Krista.” when I see them; and I know a little more about them so we can have deeper conversations when we talk.
People seem to forget that personal connections feed our soul. I believe the high-tech world we live in now has stolen our souls. Do not misinterpret me; I love television, mobile phones (not that you can EVER call me on mine), the Internet, Netflix, and even social media (except Facebook); however, so many of us have let those TOOLS take over our lives and strip us of our humanity.
When was the last time you used your mobile phone to make a phone call instead of sending a text? I am pretty sure my 24-year-old daughter, Megan, only actually calls me and that is because I do not text. There are times a text is better than a phone call. When Megan travels, she sends me an email (because I do not text) every time she stops for gas or rest with an update of her location so if an issue comes up, I know where she was last. Megan emails me so she does not need to wake me up with a phone call. When Megan is traveling during the hours she is certain I am up and near my landline, she frequently calls me while on her gas break. She likes to have that personal connection while driving alone.
Humans need other humans. Even me (I am human although Megan thinks I am from another planet because I have two emotions; 96 percent positive and 100 percent positive.) I am happiest when I am alone, but that does not mean I do not still need that personal connection. I cannot ever remember a time when I was lonely. I think I am not lonely because even though I spend a lot of time alone, I go to networking events to visit with casual friends and meet new friends. I take my seven-year-old to playgrounds and other children’s places and talk to more people. I schedule “be with people” time and that proactively satisfies that basic connection need for me.
My piece of advice to you is to TALK to someone (not your family that lives in your house) casually for ten minutes every day. Make a list of five people at the beginning of each week you want to call just to say, “Hi. How have you been?” to. Strike up a conversation with two random strangers each week. Lift your face from your phone and say, “Hello.” to the person next to you in the checkout line. Ask your barista where she or he was born. Personal connection is not that difficult if we unplug long enough to do it.
Until next time,
Susanne
Please check out my GoFundMe page.