Practice Mindfulness

I wish more people would practice mindfulness. In these days of instantaneous communication, it's very easy to let one's emotions get the better of us and to say things electronically that you would not ordinarily say to someone in person. In turn, it's too easy to react even in person because we have become so accustomed to how we can so easily take advantage of the anonymity of the computer screen that sometimes, it's easy to forget the lack of that barrier of safety. Wouldn't it be a far better world if we all took better care about what we said to each other and how we say it? What people seem to forget these days is that a kind word invites a kind word in return, and respect begets respect. It's the basic Golden Rule: treat others as you would like to be treated yourself. I'm not sure why this seems to have gotten lost in our modern world, but it sure seems to be lacking lately in so many things. Maybe people feel a sense of entitlement, maybe they feel a sense of superiority, maybe they crave power over other people, I do not know the answer to that. I just know that people are far ruder than they used to be and then do not seem to understand why their behavior elicits certain responses. If someone speaks to me in an angry or defensive tone, I can try to do my level best to defuse them, but sometimes even that gets hard when that fails to calm tempers. I wish that more people would practice mindfulness and remember that the best policy is to think carefully what you are going to say to someone and how you are going to say it. Nothing is ever accomplished by being rude or angry or defensive or any of that. If you are angry at someone, don't talk to them until you have found some better way to address them in such a way that you are not going to cause them to become angry in return. Defuse your anger by calming yourself and thinking of some better way to say what you want to say without resorting to rudeness, condescension or defensiveness. Practice mindfulness and the world will surely become a better place for everyone around you. Pass it on.

I start to think that there has become entirely too much reliance on e-mail and other electronic communication to where it has damaged the fine art of interpersonal communication. Everywhere I go, people are staring at their hand held devices instead of talking to each other. Sure, it's great to be able to instantaneously communicate with our far flung friends and family members, but by the same token, we are losing our ability to sit in the same room with someone and just talk to them in person. I don't know what can be done about it in this age of hand held devices that seem to captivate our attention non-stop, but perhaps there needs to be a moratorium on those devices to allow people to come up for air and actually TALK to people for once. What's really silly is for people in the same room to e-mail each other when they are sitting but a few feet away from each other. Um, 'scuse me, but did it ever occur to you to put down the device or step away from the computer screen long enough to actually SAY something to that person by looking them in the eye and saying whatever it is that you have to say, and hopefully in a mindful way as well? It's time to turn off the devices, step away from computer screens and start actually talking to each other again like people did before all of these electronic devices began taking over our lives. The fine art of conversation is dying a slow death and it needs to be revived like a dying patient. Sadly, wherever I go, even in restaurants, people are staring into their devices while sitting at the same table with each other instead of talking over a meal. I see it all the time. I will admit to loving electronic devices myself, but I consider it to be the height of rudeness to sit at a table having a meal with someone and staring at the electronic devices instead of talking to others with you. If you are going to be that addicted to your device, then why bother being with other people if you are not going to talk to them while being out with them? I also consider it to be incredibly rude to not shut off your smart phone/cell phone at a church service or concert or what have you when you are specifically asked to do so. It can wait. I hear phones go off all the time in movie theatres, church services, concerts and more and then carry on conversations during those events. We are far too addicted to our devices to where respect seems to be a thing of the past. Maybe there needs to be a moratorium on things electronic so that people can once again engage in actual face-to-face interpersonal communication like we once did, perhaps a 24 hour "no electronic communication" day where people will be forced to actually TALK to each other! What a novel concept! Imagine having to actually look a person in the eye and talk to them and speak in courteous, mindful tones instead of spouting off online behind the safety of a computer or hand held device screen. Maybe it would change the world just a bit if we all just took time off from excessive use of our computers and devices and took the time to compose our thoughts and talk to people in person where you have to moderate your tone of voice and consider facial expressions so that each person knows the emotion of the other when speaking. I would very much like to see a "Turn Off Your Devices Day" where we do not rely on electronic communication but actually engage one another in real and meaningful conversation. Wouldn't THAT be great idea!