Social Networking
I had a few groceries to get today. As I planned my day, I allotted myself thirty minutes to get them — a hit-and-run on the grocery store. I didn’t take into consideration that I would be social networking à la 20th century style while there.
In the vegetable department, I saw a dear friend from a job I held almost 20 years ago. Chatted with her about her and her family. Lost 15 minutes.
I rushed to get some pinto beans. A wizened old Mother-Hubbard-looking woman asked me where the split peas were. How was I to know? I detested them so I never bought them. She had to describe the dish she was making and how I ought to try it and do have a Merry Christmas with my family and by the way did I notice which way her husband went? (I didn’t want to ‘friend’ her but, well, after all it was Christmas.) Seven more minutes down the drain.
Then there was Harry in the milk department — a whopping fifteen minutes! Gone. Gay stopped me at the Cool Whip freezer. Six minutes.
A few minutes here. A few minutes there. It all added up to much longer than I had planned on being at the grocery store.
An hour and a half later, I trudged out to my car grumbling under my breath. In Facebook, I thought, I can breeze through or mosey among the comments — which ever I choose. No one can detain me. I am in control. Me. It’s all about me. What I want. What fits my time frame.
Then the light-bulb went on over my head. The socializing in the grocery store isn’t about me. It’s about the serendipitous meeting of dear friends, of connecting with them, of giving them a flesh-and-blood hug of encouragement, of wishing them a very heart felt ‘Merry Christmas.’ It’s connecting face-to-face, in real life, in real time with people that are significant to me. Not the fake Facebook socializing.
Maybe, just maybe, I need an attitude adjustment. Maybe instead of being upset at the time spent talking to folks in the grocery store, I ought to cherish those moments that I can slow down and really connect with friends that I see. Be in the here and the now. Think more of others. Less about me.
After all, isn’t that a part of what Christmas is all about?
December 23rd, 2009 at 11:34 pm
Wait, you can do that?
December 24th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
Yup! Tricky, huh?