Staying in Touch

I just got off the phone with co-blogger Judy Warner. Besides writing our Journey to Center Blog, we do occasionally get to talk and see each other in person. The conversation over, I began to think about how easy it is in our email-centered culture to forget the importance of the physical voice. It was lovely to hear the the familiar lilt and laughter that is Judy W. And to receive more of the 90% of communication that is left out of email, the non-verbals that are so important in forging and growing good relationships.

Last month, my sister Susan visited with her husband and just-turned-21-daughter Sarah. We had a wonderful family time together, and when Susan left I missed her terribly for a while. I sat down and wrote her a letter, a real snail mail letter, on a pretty card and sent it off. Last week I got a real letter back from Susan on beautiful notepaper, the envelope hand-addressed. It made my day.

I have another sister who doesn't use email at all, and at first I saw this as an inconvenience. Now I appreciate the fact that when I want to communicate with her I have to send her a card or call her on the phone. I love talking to her and receiving her letters.

I used to write letters all the time. Am I really so busy that I can't do that anymore? And while email is fast, it's no substitute for hearing someone's voice on the other end of the phone.

Email is an amazing invention. It saves time and connects us in ways that we couldn't have imagined ten years ago. I think what I'm suggesting here is that we use it intentionally, that we also understand what it cannot do, and that we not forsake the power of the human voice and written word.

Good ki!
Judy Ringer