Connection with other people is something that I would like to work on in my life.  Once upon a time, I was really good at it.  Nowadays, not so much.  I feel like I am only partly to blame for that because in this age of technology and social media you can connect with people in an instant.  For me, though, that's not a real connection.  I did not grow up with that and I do not wish for it to be my main source of connecting with other people.  Yes, social media does have its pros and can be helpful at times, but I really do not like the fact that I let it control me at times.  I can hide behind a profile and not have to be a real person.  That bothers me and I want to change the ways in which I connect with people.

Yesterday was the 4th of July.  We had our annual cookout here at the house with about 11 people in total.  It was wonderful to have them all here and connect and reconnect with friends.  I need to do that kind of thing more often because I enjoy having people in my home.  And I don't have a "no cell phone" rule at parties and dinners, though I have thought about that sometimes.  We didn't need them yesterday.  I don't recall anyone getting out their phones to text or search the web.  How glorious it was that we all just sat around and ate and enjoyed each others' company for a change.  Can I have some more, please?

As most of you know, I am big into correspondence.  I love writing letters and cards and I think that is an excellent way to connect with someone.  I adore it when I come home from work and find a letter in my mail box.  It's such a relief to not always get bills!!  But I really appreciate that someone has taken the time to sit down to write a note to me.  And my hope is that other people feel the same way when they get some mail from me.  If they don't, that's fine because I feel like I have worked towards my goal of connecting with people.

My phone skills need some work, however.  Growing up, I loved talking on the phone.  It was a big deal when a phone call was for me.  Being an adult, though, I don't enjoy it as much.  I spent so many years talking to bill collectors, which, yes, was my own fault, that it turned me off from talking on the phone.  And the invention of the text message made it easy to avoid talking.  Even though I do text, there's still a coldness about it.  You can't always tell a person's meaning because you can't hear the inflection being used.  I simply just need to start picking up the phone and practicing my talking skills.  I didn't take all of those theatre classes learning how to speak for nothing, after all!

One of the saddest things about it all is that when I say the word "connection"  I'm sure that 90% of people will automatically think of "internet connection".  I am guilty of that as well and I need to change that.  There are many ways in which I can connect with people... church, having coffee, entertaining, volunteering, etc.  I just need to get out there and do it because I know it will make me feel better about myself and my life.

That is all.