The Importance of Taking the Time to Get to Know People
How many people a day do you pass by in the supermarket, at work, on the street? We interact with so many people on a daily basis that after a while we become desensitized to the fact that they are living breathing human beings. How are you taking time to really get to know people on a more intimate and caring level?
Modern technology has made this problem even worse. It’s easy to get to know people on social media or on our cell phones. In fact, many of us hide away from the rest of the world. What about one to one interaction? What about all the people you could get to know? Think about how many people at your work, for example, you see on a daily basis but never take the time to talk to. Maybe you share a hobby. Maybe the universe has put you in close proximity for a reason that you are refusing to find out about.
Take Time and Get to Know People
Friendship starts in the most unpredictable places. Sometimes friendships begin with the people you least expect them to. If you never reach out and talk to the people you interact with on a daily basis, then you might be missing out on some pretty spectacular friendships.
Socialization is too consumed by electronics. Today we are so glued to the engagement we have on cell phones that we forget to create new experiences in the real world. Consider the room full of people engaged with their phones instead of with each other. We have become humans doing instead of staying rooted in humans “being”.
People teach us about ourselves and who we are. By getting to know new people we are not only opening ourselves up to new friendships, but we are allowing expansion in our personal growth as well. It is an opportunity to get to know ourselves as well as to get to know each other. We learn who we are through the reflections of other people in our lives.
Being mindful and present at the moment makes for a happy life. Getting to know people, especially people we have daily interaction with rather than spending time on our cell phones is a good way to practice being in the present moment. Many of us spend too much time away from the present moment when we should be focused on what’s happening around us. If you are familiar with our other blogs, you likely have seen us talk a lot about the present moment and how important it is to long-term happiness. You’ve got to start somewhere!
People deserve to be acknowledged by each other: When all is said and done, at the end of the day we are all people with similar needs and certain requirements for interaction with other human beings. We get so wrapped up in our lives and what’s going on in Facebook and other social sites that we stop seeing other people around us. Take a look around at who is close by. Are your taking the opportunity to share a connection moment or missing because your nose is buried in your phone?
If you take one important message away from this article, let it be this: remember all people carry their story inside them. It takes many stories and many personal truths to create a larger reality. Are you taking the time to listen to their stories or are you going through life with micro vision forgetting to see the humanity that surrounds you on a daily basis? And to stretch it even further, are you taking time to notice the other living beings that occupy your space other than humans. It takes all of the beating hearts to make a beautiful world. Take the time to recognize them.
Look around, look up. <3
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