monday's mantra: ain't nothing like the real thing, baby
nothing takes the place of a handwritten card, live laughter, a smile i can see, and a conversation that isn't limited by a word count.
nothing.
we now live in a culture where friendships can begin with a texted request - ended with an anonymous UNfriending - and in between, filled with oodles of virtual hugs and smiles, all of which can occur without ever laying eyes on someone.
consequently, we are dumbing down our relationships and in accumulating masses of facebook friends, we could easily lose touch with facetime friends ... the ones that truly matter.
yoga sutra 1.8: viparyayah mithya jnanam atad rupa pratistham
illusions formed by perception vs. reality keep us from truth.
and isn't this precisely what virtual relationships encourage? an illusion.
a facebook status to let 400 friends know you sat in traffic ... but not one knows the fears that keep you awake at night.
a text message that says hello ... but without a voice attached, you'll never hear the loneliness attached.
pictures posted of a new baby take the place of a visit ... and soon the baby is a toddler.
a conversation begun as we run into each other "on line" ... is brief and meaningless, considering both of us are probably splitting our attention between other conversations, work, and internet surfing.
i don't want a friend reduced to an avatar and a series of platitudes. this is an illusion, a shield from ever knowing me and ever knowing you.
today, write someone a letter ... sit down over tea ... reach out with a phone call.
ask someone how they are - with the time and attention to find out.
and i'll take a warm embrace over "hugs" any day.
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Posted by peg mulqueen at 2/22/2010 8:12 AM 
Categories: sutras, monday's mantra
Tags: yoga sutras pantanjali yoga philosophy
Categories: sutras, monday's mantra
Tags: yoga sutras pantanjali yoga philosophy
I am a terrible correspondent - whether letters or phone calls, and interestingly enough, I was thinking of writing three different people today. And then I saw your post. Interesting...
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I couldn't agree more Peg!!
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thank you dawn! i think we are due for some facetime, yes?
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