Anyway, I have been thinking a lot about connections and the connections we have with people specifically. I have found myself in the last year not keeping up the connections I have made with family and friends. Is it because I don't have a great way to communicate? Of course not. I think that maybe we have too many ways to communicate. I could Facebook you, call you, email you, send you a text and the list goes on and on. But does that really help us to establish connections with each other?
All of this technology is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because we can be closer and know what is going on better. My nephew who lives far away from me can still talk to me whenever he or I want. We could get on Skype and see each other. What a great blessing it is that he can know me even when he is little. When we lived away from Utah when I was little, I didn't know my aunts and uncles like I did when we moved back to Utah. Sometimes its a curse because we think that just doing the small things like sending a message or a text will replace face to face contact.
Recently, some friends and I started spending more time together face to face and I am loving it! How wonderful it is to go to their house, feel the spirit that resides there and have a real conversation. Don't get me wrong, I still send them texts, write on Facebook and email but just seeing their expressions, the tone of their voices and their love for me was priceless.
Does technology have a place in our lives? Yes, it does but does it sometimes replace what is meant to be a human experience we are having on the earth? Maybe it does sometimes. I am as guilty as anyone for not nurturing those relationships to the best of my ability. I am trying. I am trying to make more meaningful connections with my family and my friends.
I am reminded of a talk in General Conference that struck me especially hard. I feel like I have no time to finish school, prepare Seminary lessons, do meal planning etc but I have the same amount of time as everyone else. Am I using my time wisely? Am I spending my limited time on things that have worth? Am I really doing my personal scripture study or just sliding by?
It is a personal conversation that we each need to have with ourselves and have often. I need to reevaluate how I spend my time and do a better job at managing it. If I do that, I can make those connections that I want more meaningful and be the kind of daughter, sister and friend I want to be.
All of this technology is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because we can be closer and know what is going on better. My nephew who lives far away from me can still talk to me whenever he or I want. We could get on Skype and see each other. What a great blessing it is that he can know me even when he is little. When we lived away from Utah when I was little, I didn't know my aunts and uncles like I did when we moved back to Utah. Sometimes its a curse because we think that just doing the small things like sending a message or a text will replace face to face contact.
Recently, some friends and I started spending more time together face to face and I am loving it! How wonderful it is to go to their house, feel the spirit that resides there and have a real conversation. Don't get me wrong, I still send them texts, write on Facebook and email but just seeing their expressions, the tone of their voices and their love for me was priceless.
Does technology have a place in our lives? Yes, it does but does it sometimes replace what is meant to be a human experience we are having on the earth? Maybe it does sometimes. I am as guilty as anyone for not nurturing those relationships to the best of my ability. I am trying. I am trying to make more meaningful connections with my family and my friends.
I am reminded of a talk in General Conference that struck me especially hard. I feel like I have no time to finish school, prepare Seminary lessons, do meal planning etc but I have the same amount of time as everyone else. Am I using my time wisely? Am I spending my limited time on things that have worth? Am I really doing my personal scripture study or just sliding by?
It is a personal conversation that we each need to have with ourselves and have often. I need to reevaluate how I spend my time and do a better job at managing it. If I do that, I can make those connections that I want more meaningful and be the kind of daughter, sister and friend I want to be.
