Posts tagged Loneliness

We live in an age of instant communication yet are we really communicating? Our children are text messaging in a cryptic language, business people send each other emails even when they sit almost next to each other in the office and our news casters and politicians shout each other down and name call like a bunch of bullies. Where is the real give and take of authentic communications? I am not seeing or hearing it very much these days. Are we missing out? Are our children missing out? What will the future bring in terms of communication excellence?

I believe we are actually living in an age of more and more isolation. The instant sharing we have today does not result in a sense of belonging or understanding. We don’t often engage in real discussion where we learn how people think and feel about things. There is very little real engagement going on.

I really wonder what is going to happen in the future to this generation of children who have grown up with video games and text messaging. Where are they learning and practicing communications skills and relationship building? Where are they learning how to manage conflict or to express themselves articulately?

We, as humans, need to be grounded with others, to have a sense of association and grow emotionally, psychologically and spiritually with others. As things are going now we are possibly heading for a future of more individuals sensing isolation and loneliness because of our lack of communication with one another.

Even worse, we are not uncovering the gifts each person has to share with humanity. We all need to be part of a global conversation that looks at rediscovering the gift in each individual. Our growth as a global community depends on it. Our ability to solve problems without waring depends on it. We certainly can not, and probably should not, try to stop the movement of technology so we will have to either harness it or go outside of it to get true conversations going about the effects of the things I have mentioned on our future.

It begins with each one of us taking responsibility for starting where we are now. Use your club, church, business and other organizations as vehicles to begin this new conversation. Talk about it in social situations, talk about it with educators and politicians. It is important enough for all of us to take a lead role in creating a future of individuals who can and will engage each other in deep, authentic and productive conversation.