Right in Front of Me

In this high-tech world that we live in, it’s easy to just put your head down and let your thumbs do the talking on your I-phone or your blackberry.   Like I said the other day, I love the FB thing and I love that I can check my emails throughout the day if I’m out, and I love being able to text a quick message from anywhere.  And, I’m also aware that I have these two beautiful eyes constantly observing and mimicking, what I do.  Franki’s already got this I-phone thing down pat.  She picks it up, gives it a swipe and a tap and lets her thumbs do the talking like she was born knowing how this toy works.  So as I’m going about my day, having the ability to be in touch with people anywhere in the world, I’m also mindful of who I’m in touch with in my “right here” world.   While I’ve got my head down and my thumbs going on my I-phone, or talking on the phone, checking my emails, or giving status updates, am I also relating to those people who are right in front of me?  Like the nice lady at the checkout counter at our local grocery store.  Am I waving a “thank you” to the person in the car who just stopped to let us cross the street?  Or thanking someone who has assisted me in some way?  Am I taking a moment to hold the door open for someone who is coming right in behind me?  Am I looking people in the eyes and holding a conversation with them, present to this person right in front of me.  Am I taking the time to smile at someone, or greet them with a compliment?  Technology is great and the ability to stay in touch with people who aren’t right in front of me is wonderful, but there’s also that element of connecting with the world and the people who are right in front of me.  I’m just genuinely friendly and open with people and thanking someone, smiling as I pass by someone, or having a conversation with a total stranger is not uncommon for me and now that I have a daughter, I realize how what I’m doing in almost every moment that she’s with me, is her example of how to be in the world.  Not that she can’t figure it out for herself, and not that she wouldn’t naturally be inclined to be genuine and present to those around her, but who I’m being does influence and shape her.  There are so many people, right here in our immediate surroundings to connect with, as well as our friends who are not in our immediate surroundings.  When a car stops for us to cross the street, Franki stops, waves and says “thank you”!  She’s seen me do it, and now she does it and the person behind the wheel never fails to give a big smile and a chuckle and a wave right back.  Every interaction can be a meaningful one, whether it’s momentary or for longer periods.  And a moment such as crossing the street and waving to the nice person who let us by is meaningful because it feels good.  There are plenty of ways to relate and to have meaningful exchanges these days, and it’s my desire to not only do that by accessing the technology that we have available, but also by noticing what’s right in front of me.