,
Have you ever looked outside and seen a group of people who seem to be having a moment of silence, only to realize they’re all just looking down at their smart-phones and Ipods? Or how about this woman, who after falling into a shopping mall fountain, carries on looking at her phone? I’m here to tell you…it WILL be ok if you put your devices away for awhile.
This post isn’t going to be a condemnation of technology…after all I don’t want to be burned at the stake. I, too, enjoy the efficiency and comfort that all of our technological advances have provided. But just hear me out and enjoy this little story.
The other day I attended my first ever eye appointment for the sole reason of never having been before. Upon entering the optometrist’s waiting room, I knew I was in for an ‘old-school’ experience.
The office decor could have been traced back to a decade prior to my parents’ birth. The secretary looked to have been there from the office’s inception and was using a TYPEWRITER! I realize some of you probably have never even seen a typewriter (or know what one is), and I can’t tell you how long it’s been since I’ve seen someone use one in a business setting. Did I just walk through a black hole and get transported back in time?
While beginning my wait to be summoned by the doctor, I had a moment’s hesitation to pull out my Blackberry (…yes, I still use Blackberry). I don’t know if I was scared of setting off one of the elderly patient’s pacemakers or I feared the wrath of the secretary. Either way, there was probably no Wi-Fi, seeing as there was no computer to be seen.
So I decided to sit quietly. However, just as a predator is able to sense weakness in its prey, an elderly gentlemen who could barely walk decided to spark a conversation with me. We exchanged pleasantries and started a brief discussion of our interests (he was a lifelong competitive swimmer). Before long, though, I was called in by the doctor.
The doctor completed a few brief tests and applied some eye-drops. I wasn’t sure why… my eyes were feeling fine, thank-you very much. Then he told me to go sit in the waiting room for another 15 minutes and he would call me back. Was I getting a time-out for something? This sucks. 15 minutes – that’s forever!
Upon returning to the waiting room, I’ll admit….I went to check the phone. It had been 40 minutes since my last visual. That’s pretty long, don’t deny it. The only problem was, everything was blurry! WTF!? I really had been transported back in time.
“It’s just the eye-drops, son”, said the old man that was talking to me earlier. I felt a little silly being 30 now and unaware of the eye doctor routine, but also felt a huge sigh of relief.
So we began a thirty minute conversation (thanks to the slow-paced Doctor…shocking). He told me of his greatest swimming memories in picture perfect detail. For example, he once entered a race at the CNE in the early 1950’s, where the prize money was $10,000 (which could buy a home at that time). He told me there was only one man who was able to finish the race, and it wasn’t him. I instantly believed this man because nobody makes up a story about themselves losing.
Then there was the time in 1972 when he was swimming in the St. Lawrence River in Quebec. He told me the water temperature was in the mid to high 70’s, but it was snowing so hard he couldn’t see five feet in front of him. Again, unable to finish the race. What a cool story, though!
The stories came fast and furious. I also was able to slip in a few stories of my own, which he genuinely seemed to enjoy. I apologize since I can’t be as descriptive as my new elderly friend was with me. But…that’s kind of the whole point.
Some things are just better when experienced face-to-face. How many great conversations are missed because we constantly have our heads buried in our devices? Trust me, your tweets, texts and emails aren’t going anywhere. Look up! That’s why you were blessed with that beautiful mug. Listen more and engage others. You were also given ears and a mouth for a reason. There are so many interesting people in this city with a wealth of knowledge and with interesting stories.
As a Realtor, I’ll take a face-to-face meeting over a telephone call or video chat any day of the week. I find people give off subtle cues in person that you just can’t pick up otherwise. More importantly, I feel it’s more rewarding and it’s why I got into the profession.
And remember, I love social media…I’m on it everyday. Same goes for my BlackBerry, my computer, and a slew of other things. But, I’ve also learned the important lesson to step away sometimes. I urge you to do the same.
P.S. I would have much rather told you this story in person 🙂