Giving Thanks For Family, Friends and Technology

I have been looking forward to this holiday, not just because we have a great excuse for over eating, but get to share time with family.  Unfortunately not all my family lives close enough to come for the holidays, but because of the wonderful technology we have today, they are only a text, video or skype away.  I am so grateful for the time we live in!!!  How did we cope with being separated before? 

I laugh when I think of the saying "just reach out and touch someone."  That is becoming more and more of a reality.  I can't wait to see what is in store in the coming years.  Maybe we actually will be able to just transport ourselves to be all together.  It is exciting to see reality catching up with our imagination. 

In the meantime as wonderful as technology is, I have to remind myself that it is still ok to really talk to someone instead of sending text back in forth.  How easy it is to slip into that nonverbal world.  It is sometimes comforting to hear a loved ones voice rather than seeing a written word from them.  As a Mom I still want to think my children like to talk with me.  Besides you can't see or hear emotion in a text.  Yes I know there are the smiley faces, sad faces, grumpy faces and others, but sometimes we need to hear those emotions and share the moment whether it's in laughter or tears.  We need to feel special.  I know it is easier to end a conversation when texting, but as I said before maybe the other person really needed someones time or someone to talk to.

It also drives me crazy for others to be with me and have silent conversation with someone else that does not include you.  You automatically think they are talking about you and most likely are.  No matter what our form of communication there should be manners involved.  Can't we give a little of our time to the person we are with?  I think we all need to resist that temptation to answer every time our phone bleeps, buzzes or rings.  Better yet when visiting with someone how about we actually turn it off and revisit the art of conversation.  The old saying still stands, "If you don't use it. You lose it."   Let's not miss an opportunity to let someone know just how important they are to us and how thankful we are to have those conversations while we can.