Do you ever find yourself wanting to return to simpler times? If even for a week, a day or perhaps merely an hour? If so, what does that look like for you? I suppose this question is certainly affected by age as I wrestle with the question on most occasions when the world and its technology seem to have passed me by.
When I find a text takes longer to type (even by the Swype method) than if I simply made the call to verbally relay the message, I ask myself, “why do we do this?” Then I mull over the last time I received a letter or note in the mail penned by the sender or better yet, when was the last time I penned a letter and postmarked it to a recipient? When I ponder these questions, my thoughts stumble over life’s busyness issue. Do we get so engrossed in all there is to do that we only brush the surface of our lives rather than embrace the moments? Do we compromise relationship for time management? If so, I don’t want to be that person.
I recently walked through an antique store only to have my eyes behold one of those old, heavy black phones where the handpiece sat firmly on the top of the telephone, the dialer ring was metal and each number had a hole where you placed your finger and mustered enough finger strength to turn the dialer seven times. You know, the kind where too many nine or zero digits in the phone number gave your forefinger super power status?! In fact, I remember well seeing cheaters use a No.2 pencil to do their dialing! My grandparents had this particular kind of phone and they also had a chair which accompanied it where you sat down and found yourself permanently attached by a two foot phone cord during the duration of your phone conversation. Imagine that! We dialed a phone, held a conversation and found ourselves indefinitely stationery. There was even furniture created which served as phone stations. Can you envision this today? Sitting completely idle. In conversation. Barely a distraction to be had; it was a time where you actually focused on the person and gave undivided attention to the topic you were discussing.
I’ve posed questions through this post. Ponder them well. Sacrificing the qualities which build relationships at the expense of merely checking off another box on the to-do list of life is short-sighted at best. Take time to be idle and make a call or have a conversation where you give someone else your undivided attentions. Make the time to send someone a handwritten note of gratitude, encouragment or support. Never underestimate the gift or your time and slowed pace for another. It may seem all too simple, but stepping back in time to simpler days and finding the value in simpler times….. offers lessons for our future.
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