I’ve never had an easy, simple, or uncomplicated life. From what I’ve learned in my 70 years in this journey not many people have. We each have our own experiences, perceptions, idealisms, goals, disappointments and sadly tragedies multi times as we navigate the ups, downs – highs and lows. Communicating with honest sincerity has been something stressed throughout my upbringing and not surprisingly something I adopted in raising my own kids and into my career path and interactions with fellow humans.
I’m reflecting on how communication has evolved, how it impacts our day to day so differently now due to technological advancement, which many attribute to streamlining almost every aspect of our lives these days. Via online banking, to studying, texts, message apps, alerts to keep us safe, directions via GPS to assist us in the to and from, tracking locators, streaming media, and why am I even mentioning any one of these that you are probably in process of using right this minute. I’m musing over this having seen more than one photo recently of family and friends online with others in the background, heads bent in their own ‘world’ and wondering have we also lost something real while gaining through more progressive tech assisted living?
Sometimes we paint a ‘pretty picture’ or are advised to have a ‘stiff upper lip’, ‘carry on’, ‘suck it up buttercup’ (I could go on) in the face of adversity. Old school advice to sweep the pain or emotions under the rug and keep on keepin’ on. Internalizing often encouraged, emotions kept behind closed doors as we pretend on the day to day that life is idyllic, happy, and normal. I’ve never been great at holding things in, I’ll be honest. Now having so many immediate ways to communicate with a device in hand, is there a danger of sharing too much?
The question comes to mind, are we losing the art of communication spontaneously in person, taking an easier route by letting our fingers do the talking, rather than handwriting a letter although kids won’t be able to read our cursive writing in the future from the looks of things not learning how to do that themselves in school.
Are we not meeting up as often for a heart to heart because life is now constantly coordinated ‘in the clouds’ via satellite, fibre optiks and tik toking while playacting charades that masquerade deeper feelings (at times – there’s always room for fun). Just reviewing, considering what was to what has become our norm these days and trust me I’m in no position to judge, with my phone turned on waiting for the next text or call, while typing in advanced software for journalists.
As my kids were growing up, I likely annoyed them more often than not with positive sayings, affirmations and mantra’s. One of my grown sons, a full-time fire fighter in the lower mainland of B.C., just quoted a few back to me in a phone conversation recently reminding me to “walk on the sunny side of the street” and about the law of attraction. Wow! My words of advice stuck and came back to build me up. Kind of uplifting to hear. Words do matter, however they are delivered and have lasting impact.
I weigh the thought of technology in how we communicate, seeing photos of people constantly peering at their devices, rather than interacting and connecting one on one, versus some positive advantages of capturing the moments immediately via phone camera’s, video or recording. Is finding the balance the key?
You would think with these advantages, such as in the cases of abuse and the documentation of such crimes against others these advances would prove to bring abusers, bullies, oppressors and perpetrators to justice being held accountable to the full extent of the law.
Look, it’s not the first time nor will it be the last seeing cases of documented, proven abuse, thrown out on technicalities or less than adequate sentences applied as criminals walk out the door, time served applied. In spite of footage, voice recordings, DNA tests and security camera footage, it’s still happening. Even though cutting edge technological advancement should be that nail that hammers home proof of the crime, but we still see them walk. In fact, cyber-crime is on the rise so technology can have the opposite effect contributing to more crime.
Back to communication in its simpler form. I’m asking myself, are there ways to become more in the moment, accessible and a little less dependent upon technology? Facing facts, it’s here to stay and I’ve embraced it, but maybe it’s not a bad idea to review my own usage to stay safe, be accountable and schedule my own inner updates moving forward. What do you think?
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