This post is taken from one I wrote a couple of years ago on my own website. Thought it fit nicely in today’s world. You can read the original here.
When Did The Music Stop?
I get up every morning at about the same time, drink water and coffee, talk to my husband, pet my dog. Then drink more coffee.
Then what do I do? Usually the biggest mistake of the day.
Open the news media sites.
Then say to myself, “When did the music stop?”
Yeah, you too?
Those media sites are cluttered with other kinds of people. The ones who yell at each other, redefine life on planet earth in their own image, put God on a paper airplane and throw him to the wind, then sit in his chair.
The planet they live on is not the one I want to live on.
Where have all the real people gone? You know, the ones who go to work, take care of themselves and their families, mow their lawns, fill up their tanks, and shop for groceries? And, dare I say, go to church on Saturdays or Sundays?
Kids on tricycles and bicycles and skates—the kind with keys—zooming up and down the sidewalks, playing kick the can and hide-and-go-seek, with parents and grandparents and neighbors cheer-leading from their front porches is the planet I’m from and want to get back to. Back to where some things were just not confusing . . . ya know what I mean?
Back to when homework was the first thing you did after school . . . after the peanut butter, mayo, and bologna sandwich, of course.
When talking to someone happened without a screen between you.
And people cared. About each other, about animals, and a smile didn’t hide an agenda and didn’t need a mask. A smile was just a smile, the way God intended it to be. A handshake meant something and we weren’t afraid to touch someone else’s fingers.
Back to when we watched the TV–not the other way around.
Where did that world go? It slid away from us a long time ago and maybe hit a few snags along the way, like when Woodward and Bernstein were on it BlueBonnet . . . but now here we are. And we don’t even know where here is.
Again, when did the music stop? Okay, take a breath, Deb.
I think it’s still there. We just have to listen with better ears.
After I get some more coffee, I’m going outside to see if I can hear it.
See ya out there!
Even as an introvert I’ve seen the decline in our ability to interact with one another on a personal level, not just from a screen. So I make an effort to engage — even if it’s only to say hello. And you’d be amazed how many people don’t know how to return greeting for greeting.
But interpersonal interaction isn’t just good for individuals and community, it’s good for generating story fodder. And we don’t want to run out of story fodder. 😎
Good morning, Brenda. Thanks for stopping by.
It’s most disconcerting when I say “hi” to a grandchild and they just give me a blank look. Maybe it’s just a kiddo thing, though. Hope so.
Someday there’ll probably be a history lesson written about the decline of spoken communication–if we don’t pay attention to that decline today. But, I’m optimistic about it.
Wouldn’t it be fun to have a screen burning event in the public square?
Have a great day!
Don’t get me started, Deb.
TKZ continues to host old-fashioned, respectful interactions among people who can discuss differing interests and values w/o screaming, insulting, or denigrating others.
Like Brenda, I smile and say “Good morning” to people. Some are flummoxed, others stare straight ahead and ignore me, but thankfully most still respond positively. Hope that never ends.
Ditto, Debbie!
In our smallish town, folks are friendly (usually) and go out of their way to be kind. Reminds me of the neighborhood I grew up in.
I, too, hope that never ends.
Thanks for dropping by this morning.