Causing deadly harm behind the wheel, careless adoption of rude behavior any and everywhere, discomfort with face-to-face conversation, mental distraction and lack of focus—the damage of cellphone nonsense continues to stun me. What I find at times more surprising, however, is the unwillingness of so many recipients of the rudeness to speak up. It’s not okay that your coffee date interrupts your conversation at every “ping.” By opting for for ongoing phone use, your passenger demonstrates what matters more. When your companion at the concert, picnic, or ballgame prefers phone use to your company, just say something. Of course, there are often good reasons to keep a phone on while with others or in public, and a quick explanation conveys awareness and respect.We all know the advantages of the phone—providing directions, making and receiving timely phone calls, ending worry with a quick update, sending a text to clarify, receiving confirmation via email, seeking a little or lot of help, etc. Why don’t we better understand the disadvantages of non-stop devotion? Perhaps it’s this addiction’s hold on us that’s at the root of the culture of “busyness.”
Read MoreI invite you to listen or view our conversation. Being mindful of the swirl of busyness and stopping it…learning to concentrate and listen so that good conversation can happen…talking about key ideas that will serve children (and adults) well as building blocks for good living...expressing appreciation for life’s abundant simple pleasures...growing in gratitude…valuing the give-and-take of genuine communication—just a sampling of our lively, spontaneous dialogue.
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Learn new dance moves. Clear the mind. Take a walk. Hold hands. Have faith in a new generation of leaders. Discover and support winning coalitions. Focus on efforts to reverse the deadend course ahead. light at tunnel’s end - night stars and morning glory - positivity