In these heady days of social media, emailing, information technology and digital forums, it seems quite easy to move between various websites, electronic messages and social media platforms and feel like in doing so we are part of society. However, sometimes a person can feel a bit hollow if the only ‘human’ contact a person has had all day is via a computer, telephone or some other electronic device. Whilst I am as guilty as anyone of being that person, I am more and more aware of the richness of real-life, true human contact.
Usually, weekends at our house are filled with commitments – admittedly mostly those of our children. In what little time remains, we go about vaguely fulfilling the basic functions of a household like washing, cooking and, well…. dancing wantonly around the living room. After a weekend of what my former single self may have seen as quite drole and boring, I am satisfied and pretty happy with myself, especially if said washing and cooking was successful.
Conversely, spending a day on my own, at a computer, strolling virtually through many a various online space, I can walk away feeling quite dull. Even if I discover a hundred new life hacks and see wonderful images from all the world over, I personally don’t find all that much meaning in them until I get to share them with another person and have a two-way discussion.
The web of real human kindness, of belonging and communication face-to-face (or hug-to-hug) is the place to be. Although I love the internet in all its glory, recently I have seen far too much opinion on people’s pages, often barely considered in implication or depth of meaning. It reminds me that so many people will post something on a social media platform that they would never say out loud to another person’s face. To me, this seems like a warning.
Heeding the warning means that I will spend more time this month speaking to real people in real life than I will emailing and participating in online discussions. Balance, as always, is the key. So I’ll keep it short on the blog and long on the chat today.
Go forth and make real contact and spread the word – real life is pretty awesome.
Alena Turley is an Australian mentor for mothers. Founder of the pioneering blog, the Soul Mama Hub, her wellbeing membership offers a powerful pathway for mothers ready to go from over-extended, stuck in the daily grind, to empowered, inspired and energised so they can become the CHANGEMAKERS they dream of being.