In the age of technology, texting has become one of our main forms of communication. It's quick, easy, and honestly just way more convenient than a phone call or an email. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not some technology hater who thinks we should all go back to living in caves and eating wild berries. In fact, I think technology and texting is a really useful tool when used properly. Unfortunately, we have allowed texting to replace good, old fashioned, talking. I didn't really become totally aware of this problem until I went to college. I found my now long-distance relationship completely relying on words in blue bubbles on a screen. Romantic, right? All because texting was easy and convenient. I began to settle as words on a screen filled the void, convincing myself that this would make up for not seeing each other in person.
Unfortunately, texting has begun to replace face-to-face interactions, phone calls, and letters.
No matter how difficult it may be to find the time to talk in ways other than texting, it is necessary. When texting begins to replace other forms of communication, our relationships become too casual. Generic "Happy Birthday" texts to our lifetime best friend replace phone calls and cards because a text is so much faster than mailing a card or dialing a number. Texting turns the special people in our lives into ordinary people. Anybody can type words on a screen. These words can be deleted or edited with the press of a button. There is no real value or substance to them; they're merely pixels floating around in cyberspace. Relationships become impersonal when we get caught up in our phones. Say things out loud where they cannot be taken back or deleted. If you truly mean the words that you feel, let them have a lasting impression in the world.
Your relationships with others should not rely on text messages.
Too often we use texting as an excuse not to see people. We all have that one friend who we have no problem carrying on a text conversation with, but the second you find yourself face-to-face with them, you're at a loss for words. We avoid seeing them because we don't know what to say, but texting allows us to act polite and occasionally check-up on them.
Texting gives us the courage to say the things we are too scared to say in person.
It's easy to hide behind our phone and send rude or uncomfortable messages that we would just rather not have to say in person. Our phones make us feel superior to others, almost like we are invincible. While we can talk big in our texts, but in reality we just don't have the guts to say those mean, hurtful, or just downright awkward things. Everyone has experienced that dreaded "we need to talk" text at one point or another, and you know the feeling when you see those words light up on your screen. Chances are, whoever really needs to talk to you, probably doesn't have the courage to tell you in person. For the record, nobody should ever be asked out on a formal date or be broken up with over a text message either. It's pretty self-explanatory, and I'm not sure if this actually happens that often, but it needed to be said for good measure.
Quit letting your phone ruin what's right in front of you.
This goes for texting while out with friends, at the dinner table, on a date, and the millions of other inappropriate places people use their phones. Please don't be that friend that always has to have their phone with them at all times. You will survive if it dies while you're out, I promise. You would be amazed at all of the things you miss out on by constantly having your nose in your phone. Put it down and enjoy what's around you. Focus on the people you're actually with, not the people you're virtually talking to. Your friends and family will thank you for it later.
Stop letting your phone control your life. It does not own you. You have no loyalty to it. Your text messages will still be waiting there for you at the end of the day, so don't make them your priority all of the time. Start being intentional in the relationships that you have. Talk to those you value in your life, and I mean really talk, not text. Say the words that you mean and hold back the ones that you don't. Call your friends often, and always make time to write a handwritten letter.
