It’s Sunday morning, but unlike my usual Sunday Morning Reflections, we’re out of town for a few days visiting friends in Ohio. The house is quiet as everybody is just starting to wake up.
Usually, just a short time before I start typing, I’ll be thinking about something to write about, and then, like the light bulb over the head of a cartoon character, I’ll get an idea. Well, here’s what popped into my head this morning.
I was thinking about the “social” in social media, but not in the way most of you use it, but in how, simply because I’m an old fart, I’ve got my personal technique. While texting, email, Facebook and Twitter are important in my life these days, the real hero is that 1876 invention called the phone!
Here are two perfect examples from this past week:
I shared a post earlier in the week with an incredibly powerful video about Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep by Jennifer Denton. I can’t imagine a tougher assignment than what NILMDTS volunteers do and how they give back. In fact, each one of them makes me proud to be a part of this industry, let alone my role as one of their ambassadors.
So, while most of you would simply write somebody a quick email, I wanted to call Jennifer directly and just say, “Nice job – thank you!” She wasn’t there, but I got to leave a voicemail. I wasn’t expecting a response, but she called me a few hours later, and we talked about her role and helping families through the grieving process.
On another day last week, I recorded a new podcast with John Paul Aguiar. I met John Paul through Twitter when I started to RT his tweets. A few months ago, I tracked him down and called him – there it is, that 1876 invention again!
Before we started recording, we had a great little conversation about blogging and what we were going to talk about during the podcast. * poof * Another new friendship kicked off, and there’s no doubt in my mind we’ll stay in touch.
Here’s my point this morning. Just being active in social media through your keyboard holds you back from one of the best things about it – your ability to meet and get to know new people. For me, the Internet is a just a gateway for something much bigger, our ability to share and communicate with each other directly.
The toughest way in the world to “talk” is via the printed word. It doesn’t pick up your personality, and you learn nothing about the person you’re “talking” to. It’s perfect for staying in touch with people you know and even good to open the door with new acquaintances but if you want to add a few building blocks to the foundation of your friendships, then start dialing.
At a time when today’s kids have lost the art of conversation to texting, IMs, and email, just give me a phone. And, for those of you who just rolled your eyes because you don’t have the time to talk to somebody in person, here’s a thought. You don’t have the time NOT to!
Wishing everybody a wonderful Sunday, and a day filled with great friendships. We’re with terrific friends who I’ve written about in the past. They’ve got a sign on their living room wall that says it all,
Here’s to the nights that turned into mornings with the friends that turned into family.
Happy Sunday everybody! And to Jennifer and John Paul, two new friends, thanks for answering your phones.
