Human to Human Contact

I recently read an article about a photographer named August Sanders (1876-1964). Through his view finder he captured the many faces of the German society in which he lived. Writer David Propson wrote in the Wall Street Journal that he captured “A universe of humanity in his restricted space.”

As I continued reading the article, I couldn’t help but recall a conversation that I had a few weeks ago with my daughter Morgan. I told her about a conversation that a woman engaged in with me at the grocery store meat counter. This was the second time that a complete stranger engaged in a conversation with me, only before it was in the produce department. Each conversation ended with “you have a nice day”! Morgan said that when she moved to Virginia she had the same thing happen to her, “I believe that is a “Southern thing.” We both agreed that we could hardly ever remember a complete stranger engaging in a conversation with us at the grocery store back home.

I am not sure if this engaging grocery store conversation by complete strangers is a “Southern thing”, but I would like to say that it is a very human thing. Each day we live our lives and connect with one another through an array of technologies, cell phones, Skype, Twitter, Facebook and hey check out this video on You-Tube. Along with internet news sites and Blogs that provide us with a wide range of topics. With the click of a mouse we can participate with a comment or chose to remain anonymous. Has all of this instant information/communication technology lessened our human contact?

Perhaps the reason why I was so startled by a complete stranger engaging in a conversation with me at the grocery store has more to do with the “old form of human to human communication, which is becoming so rare these days. As we continue to embrace and keep up with the ever changing technology that is apart of our day to day lives, I hope that we will still cherish the irreplaceable human to human connection.

The tomatoes are extremely ripe today…

“Wherever we live, we cross paths with people from many backgrounds and beliefs.” – Our Daily Bread 4.26.10

“Each contact with a human being is so rare, so precious, one should preserve it.” – Anais Nin

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. - Hebrews 13:2 (NIV)

http://www.servicenation.org/


Photos by Trish: www.wix.com/TrishN/Trish-Nicholas-Photography

Photos For Purchase Courtesy of Redbubble: http://www.redbubble.com/people/tmeian

A Photographers Journey: http://hubpages.com/profile/PhotoTljn7

The Ugly Side of Technology

Hello...

A few Sunday’s ago I received a video on my cell phone of my granddaughter walking… wow technology at it’s best, she lives in VA and I don’t. Technology has opened up a whole new way of living and sharing our lives with others. We have all at one time or another witnessed technology at its best in the medical field as well as in the legal community.

Many of us are becoming increasingly aware of accidents and deaths related to talking and texting while driving. On Easter weekend I encountered an out of state driver texting behind the wheel… technology’s ugly side. We are all guilty of using our cell phones when we are driving. This device compliments of technology enables us to have 24/7 contact with anyone that we desire to communicate with and at any given time. But why, why do we risk our life and the lives of others… for what. And don’t fool yourself into thinking that only young people are doing the texting while driving, trust me the woman that I encountered on the road was not a young person, a matter of fact she should have know better.

Do we think that by telling ourselves that I could never be in an accident or cause an accident while I am talking or texting behind the wheel... that happens to other people not me. This mindset is simply ridiculous, illogical and down right STUPID! The fact of the matter is that taking our eyes off of the road for a second can change your life and the lives of others in an instant.

Maybe just maybe if we start thinking about our cell phone as a mere telephone, then we might change our current user behavior. Yes, I know that it is easier said then done. The expanding cell phone technology has taken us beyond just calling and receiving calls. I have first hand experience with the latest cell phone model which comes with a movie already downloaded on it. I am sure all of these cool applications can make it quite challenging for all of us.

If you are serious about making a change here are a few suggestions that I hope you will consider when you are driving. why not take the Oprah pledge, print it out and post it in your car, get a hands free device and keep your conversation short… what ever it is that you are discussing can surly wait until you can give it your undivided attention. AND if it can’t wait then PULL OVER!

I hope and pray that from here on out you will seriously restructure your user behavior before you make that call… if not consider this, it could be your LAST CALL!

By Trish

“Life is too short to be little. Man is never so manly as when he feels deeply, acts boldly, and expresses himself with frankness and with fervor.”- Benjamin Disraeli (British Prime Minister and Novelist) 1804-1881

“Circumstances are beyond human control, but our conduct is in our own power.” – Benjamin Disraeli

http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Watch-a-Special-Message-from-Oprah-Video_1


The time is always right to do what is right. – Martin Luther King Jr.

Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing
Isaiah 43:18-19 KJV


Take The Pledge: http://www.oprah.com/questionaire/ipledge.html?id=4


FACT: Teens, Cell Phones and Texting
Text Messaging Becomes Centerpiece Communication
by Amanda Lenhart, Senior Research Specialist, Pew Internet & American Life Project
April 20, 2010
One in three (34%) texting teens ages 16-17 say they have texted while driving. That translates into 26% of all American teens ages 16-17.
Half (52%) of cell-owning teens ages 16-17 say they have talked on a cell phone while driving. That translates into 43% of all American teens ages 16-17.
48% of all teens ages 12-17 say they have been in a car when the driver was texting.
40% say they have been in a car when the driver used a cell phone in a way that put themselves or others in danger.
To read the full report log onto http://pewresearch.org/

PULL OVER! T-SHIRT from Zazzle.com

April 30th is National No Phone Zone Day!

Mark your calendars be a part of this lifesaving event and tune in to Oprah’s show on Friday, April 30Before then, sign the pledge and pass it on to stop texting and driving.