Zoom Drop the mic

 

TGF Zoom.  What would we have done without it? Or Teams / Google Meeting / any of the rest.  They are our way of communicating, getting things done, and keeping our lives moving. The world as we knew it ended.  It is not coming back.  Online became more than a norm it turned into a necessity.  What was once newspapers, became tv, then morphed into streaming.  But are we over it? 

Online everything has been one of the few small silver linings to the last 2+ years.  We can now get what we need and meet people from all over the world 24 / 7.  Need to see a doctor, no problem.  Need to show Grandma your latest creation, easy.  Need a support group, writing group, any group, now you don’t have to wait until that day at that time.  They don’t have to be on the same continent. Just log in.  Need to meet with your boss, your design team, and the kid’s teacher, all online.  You don’t have to get dressed anymore.

Need a hug.... a drink with a friend… personal contact…. Well….

Online has become our default.  Do you want to do this or that?  Is it online?  Yes, then sure I’ll do that.  No, I have to go somewhere, well maybe not.  It might be too much work.  Getting dressed and leaving the house was something we all did every day without thinking.  Now it’s an event, chore, something we plan.  I need to go to the store for milk.  Since I must put on real pants (the only pair that still fits) I might as well do…. while I’m at it.  Is there gas in the car?  When is the last time I got gas?

See something new.  The world is bigger than four walls.

Admit it, home is comfortable.  All your stuff is there.  By this time all you need for whatever is close at hand.  The thought of going back to in-person is terrifying, repulsive, or at the very least a headache.  What about dog walking?  Naptime.  Getting out of bed more than 2 min before the meeting starts.  Having to pay attention to the person talking.  Then there is travel time, traffic, parking, and weather.  You might have to talk to the person you put on mute for over a year. Effective people skills?  Wait, What?

In-person, your camera is always on. (Major yuck!!!!!!)

The world is never going back to the way it was.  And in many ways that is a good thing. We can reach out across the globe to people we never knew before.  We can get the help we need whenever it is needed.  Join groups and be a part of things we never knew existed before.  At the same time, we have become comfortable in our isolation.  We default to PJs and screen time.  The world has become huge and minuscule at the same time.  Humans are not meant to be alone.  We need each other, in person, up close, and personal.  We crave real connections.

Online has made it easier and harder all at the same time. I am grateful all the friends and the community zoom has allowed me to continue and grow.  But now an effort must be made to reach out for the personal side of things.  Reach out for the hug, the walk in the park with a friend, the face-to-face, in-person relationship.

Turn off the screen.  Turn off the filters and exotic backgrounds. The ability to connect without a screen is everything. Call a friend.  Have some time together.