KEEPING IN TOUCH.. is so important today!

We are all blessed to have and to have had some wonderful people in our lives.. our fathers who have worked hard to provide for us.. our mothers to nurture and nourish us.. our siblings to teach us many things.. our teachers to prepare us for a career in whatever we choose to do.. and last but not least.. our friends who are just “there” to stand by us no matter what when the crisis happens!

When we were in school.. it was a given that we’d get home.. freshen up.. eat a snack.. finish our homework and then go downstairs (or outside) to play! We’d be counting the minutes until we could meet our friends and relate to them every minute detail of our day.. We were completely “in touch” with our friends!

Similarly.. mealtimes were when we’d regale our parents siblings and children with the happenings of the day.. the good.. the bad and the ugly! Complaints from the teacher at school.. the occasional word of praise.. how a friend was helpful or “unfair” perhaps.. gentle gossip about the neighbours.. the new TV and when would WE get a big one?!

College days were as much fun with bunking lectures.. eating at the local “Raju sandwichwallah”.. hanging out in the library and canteen.. sharing stories of new romances.. loves.. heartaches.. heartbreaks.. We used to talk our hearts out and share EVERYTHING that was happening in our lives! Being “connected” was our “default setting” and we didn’t know “how to be” any other way!!

When things started getting “civilized” and every house got a telephone.. things started changing.. we became a little “prim & proper” and a little “formal” and very much “American”! Instead of going across.. ringing the bell and announcing “Hi! I’m here.. I’m hungry.. what’s there to eat? I’m waiting to sit down and spend time with you” we started calling and chatting over the phone.. We started calling and saying “Hi.. is this a good time to talk”?

The “connections got a little diluted and then with the advent of the mobile phone.. we became even more “disconnected”! Covid happened and the mobile became our “lifeline” and our only means of communication! By the time the Covid protocols were relaxed.. a number of people were convinced that “being away from everything and everyone” was a good thing!

In the world we inhabit today.. morning messages.. condolence messages.. invitations.. RSVPs.. thank you messages and just about everything is via texting and WhatsApp.. WHY? Simply because we don’t want to “intrude”.. simply because “personal space” has become so important.. simply because it’s EASIER than meeting people face to face and saying what we want to.. and we don’t NEED to make the effort!

We may have hundreds of “friends” on social media and networking platforms.. but how many of those are 3 am friends? Some of us may say “I’m not good at keeping in touch so I don’t text/call/meet but the other person knows what I feel for him/her/them”! Seriously? How? Mobile phones are great for long-distance friendships but they can’t be a replacement for local ones!

We are human BEINGS and we need to BE connected.. cherished.. loved.. understood.. cared about.. and that’s just the way it is! Let’s not take the people we love respect and care about for granted.. but keep in touch and make plans.. meet up with each other.. put our mobiles away when we meet.. and revive the quality of our friendships and relationships!

Let’s be fearless when it comes to sharing how we REALLY feel with that handful of trusted friends and people.. not be ashamed to confess to failure.. to reach out and ask for help and support.. All this will be possible only when we stay connected a a deep and meaningful level..

Most important of all.. make sure that you are staying connected to yourself.. that you’re listening to your inner voice.. going with your gut instinct.. staying aware of and sensitive to people places and situations.. and praying thinking and doing whatever makes and keeps your heart and soul happy and at peace!

Stay blessed and stay connected.. in the right way!