Last night I took my family out to eat at one of our favorite restaurants: Cracker Barrel!
As I sat there, I looked around the room only to find about 80% of the families I saw glued to their phone. Kids as young as 10 to adults as seasoned as 60 were trapped in their social world only to be disconnected with the real world around them.
Many of the interactions that I saw were only to show someone something they saw that interested them. Few of the interactions were to actually engage another member at the table.
It was saddening to see all of the missed opportunities for personal relationships.
Parents and kids were disconnected from each other.
Husband and wives were disconnected from each other.
Dating couples were disconnected from each other.
Siblings were disconnected from each other.
Grandparents were disconnected from grand-kids.
etc…….
This is not the first time that I have observed this. Sadly I have observed this more and more frequently as technology is progressing. Everyone is becoming more disconnected from their physical environment as they are more connected with their digital environment.
Don’t be discouraged though because there is a simple solution to all of this; Put the phone down.
Husbands, your wife would much rather talk to you than see you disconnected from life.
Wives, your husband would much rather talk with you than see you more interested in your phone.
Siblings, you would have so much more fun if you would interact with each other outside the phone.
Dating couples, you aren’t at this stage in life to get to know their phone. Talk to each other!
I am all for social media. It is a great way to connect with people who you can’t see on a regular basis. What I am not for is my social media life being my only life.
I am all for owning a smartphone; they make life easier! What I am not for is my smartphone owning me.
Don’t forget there is a world outside God created that’s more fulfilling than any world you create inside your phone.
Look up, get out, and get connected………to those around you.
I have been to the beautiful Baltimore inner harbor and could not believe the in attention to everyone walking around a beautiful place with faces in phones!