A thought by Mike Bechtle from his book, Dealing with the Elephant in the Room: Moving from Tough Conversations to Healthy Communication (p. 50). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)
We really do need each other. We really do.
Mike says, “Life was meant to be shared and finds its richest meaning in community.
“When I’m traveling, something often moves me—a world-class sunset, an amazing meal, or just an experience that brings me joy. My first instinct is to think, ‘I wish Diane could see this.’ So I take a picture with my phone and send it to her so she can share the experience. More than once I’ve taken a picture of a meal I’m enjoying that makes me want to experience it with her by my side.
“Roger was one of those independent people who said he didn’t need anyone else. ‘I can take care of myself,’ he would say. ‘Relationships are just too much of a hassle.’ But deep inside, he knew it was an excuse. He was afraid to be vulnerable because he didn’t want to be rejected.”
Maybe that is you or you know someone like that.
Mike goes on, “Like Roger, many people don’t want to do the hard work to learn interpersonal skills that lead to real connection. It’s easier for them to say, ‘I don’t need anybody’ than to learn how to communicate effectively. Deep inside, it’s an unmet need. If connection doesn’t happen, it impacts the person’s life in some very unhealthy ways.
“Human moments have become more rare as they have been replaced by technological moments. When people communicate electronically without having face-to-face conversations, they miss the subtleties that draw people together. When we’re physically present with someone and give them our undivided attention, we have a human moment. That’s connection.”
And we really need that connection, don’t we?
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