How many times have you been in the middle of a conversation with someone and their cell phone rings? What happens next? Does the person excuse themselves to take the call, look at their phone or do they continue focusing on you?  I feel the average person will at least take out their cell phone and see who is calling before determining if they answer or ignore the call.

I am confused on how an invention created to allow us more freedom has changed how we interact with each other.  If we step back and reflect if we’re in the middle of a conversation how many of us would let someone else interrupt the conversation.  If I’m talking to you and focusing my attention on you why would I let someone else come between us if they just walked up and started talking?

How many times do we see people texting while “engaged” in a conversation with someone else? How is this possible to be truly engaged in a conversation if your mind is somewhere else? What does this say about us and about how we view relating to others?

If we are truly engaged in a conversation or dialogue with someone then that person needs to be your sole focus.  I think we need to rethink how we view our cell phones usage.

Watch this video from wimp.com. Let me know what you think about their message about cell phones and connecting with others. I think it’s a great message. I promise not to look at my cell

In this day of instant messaging and texting we sometimes forget that " hearing your voice” can be more important than just our words.

In a new study led by Leslie Seltzer of the University of Wisconsin, girls who had heard mothers' words were consoled compared to girls who didn’t talk to their mothers at all and girls who only communicated through texting. Researchers looked at the girls’ cortisol and oxytocin levels before and after completing a math test. Cortisol levels are related to our stress levels. Oxytocin is associated with the ability to maintain healthy interpersonal relationships.

Girls who heard their mother's voice, either in person or on the phone, were consoled. Their oxytocin levels rose, (which means they felt connected to their mothers) and their cortisol levels dropped (which means they felt less stressed after the conversations.)

What does this all mean to kids, parents, and couples?  Texting is fine for everyday conversations such as “ supper at 6 pm or Do you anything from the grocery store?”  But maybe a personal phone call is in order for “ How was your test today?” or other potential emotional conversations.

What did we learn? 
Researchers believe we miss emotional cues when texting.   And not all conversations are best handled over texting. Person to person verbal conversation is the best to transmit and receive verbal emotional cues from each other and to emotionally connect with our loved ones. 


Enjoy the clip. Let me know what you think?