connected

So many issues we face in this modern world: I’ve heard it said recently that things aren’t really any worse than they’ve ever been; we just have the technology to know immediately when trouble arises. I don’t know if that’s true, but I do know that we are in a constant state of being connected. But the reality of that is, while the ability to obtain knowledge and communicate with people is always at our fingertips, we as a society as a whole are far less authentically connected than we have ever been.

The truth of the matter is, no matter how many Facebook friends, followers and likes you have on social media, nothing trumps authentic one-on-one communication. Nothing tops spending real time with people.  Not only is it good for your soul, it teaches you about humanity.  How to accept people for all their parts, to see the world through a different perspective, that everyone has something to contribute, how to have a debate when you don’t agree, see expression on their faces, passion in their voices. Know them, truly.

And you can’t get that from any device you can hold in your hand.

You have to have connection — real human connection.  To make friends out of strangers. I was reminded of that last night at my son’s baseball banquet.  Here was a group of 16 boys different ages and grades. Some have played together for years, some have for a few seasons, and some had never played together. But from the start, they have made an effort to get to know one another. Establish a bond. And when the captain, a senior, stood up to give his senior speech, he really made the point clear — you can’t be a team if you don’t have a connection and you can’t have that without spending time together.  Baseball more than any sport is about chemistry. So, when the season started, when they were getting the cobwebs out of their batting mechanics, awakening the muscles used to field a ground ball or the throw from right field to third base, just as important, was building the bond of a team. And seeing those boys together last night, it was more than obvious that is what they are, and more than that, they are friends.

And as this season continues, and it has been a successful one on the field, I think the memories those boys will carry is the fun they had with each other off the field, that so contributed to the success they have had on the field. And they did it through cookouts, and bonfires. Through team lunches, and fishing excursions. They did it by getting to know each other, and the giving and earning of respect.

In person.  Being present in the moments that they will have as memories for all their lives.  They put down their phones and their video games. They didn’t really even post or tweet about any of it. They were too busy living it.

What an example for all of us. How many times a day do you look at your phone?  When you are meeting a friend for lunch how many times do you check your phone?  Send a text? Answer a call? What in your present are you missing by being so plugged in?  Authentic one-on-one communication, it is the greatest way we have to really understand each other. Support each other; learn to respect each other’s differences.

So for me, I’m going to take a cue from my son, and his team. I am going to stop being tied to that tiny screen. Make some authentic plans with people I love and people I want to get to know better.  Maybe if we all did, if we stopped working so hard at being connected, and made actual human connections, we’d all feel more a part of our communities, and society as a whole.  A part of the team.  And if I’ve learned anything this season:  a well-connected team is one that wins.  When that happens, it gives us all something to celebrate.

Respectfully…

Jules