Are We Too Virtually Connected?

For the past 10 minutes, I was just staring at all the live updates flooding my facebook newsfeed. A lot of the status updates were quite interesting with the exception of some silly ones, a few people were declaring their love while there were others who were evidently in a bad mood..

It was a constant stream of by-the-second updates about people's lives, thoughts, mood, relationship status and more. But that was when this thought hit me.. have all these forms of online communication (twitter, tumblr, blogs, MSN, etc) made us way too connected?

I mean, its totally awesome that we have such networks that connects us with friends anywhere in the world, especially long lost ones from our childhood days, but are we becoming too virtually reliant in our relationship with them?

There was a time, when we'd actually miss our friends we lost touch with for months or those who went overseas, because our means of communication was compromised. We'd always look forward to their return because then we'd arrange to meet to catch up and update each other about all that's been happening in our lives.

These days, how many times have we been guilty of making empty promises online that "we have to catch up soon!" but never did. Why? Well maybe because we are already so well informed by all the in-our-face updates about our friends' lives so much so that we perhaps feel there's no actual need to meet up to talk or catch up in person..

Simply put, the reason for wondering what's going on in each other's lives, for missing friends.. is now filled by the very presence of this convenient connectivity online. Its sad but true that we're all taking for granted and unintentionally forsaking actual face to face quality time because we probably feel that we already "see them" in all their latest photo uploads anyway.

But while staying in touch online every other second is great, nothing still beats an actual meet up. We may all have a lot of different reasons and explanation but one factor that I personally feel is important in every relationship, is the human touch.

I'm sure you've had those days when you updated your twitter or facebook status about a super happy news you were bursting to tell someone or maybe a night when you were feeling shitty and deep inside all you needed and really wanted was for someone to be there for you. All the comments of concern, congrats and virtual hugs just don't quite feel the same, do they?

I guess being there for a friend ought to mean being there physically from time to time and during significant occasions as well. There are certain feelings or emotions we may not always be able to accurately convey through written words. Sometimes, we and/or our friends don't even want to say much but simply long for a friend to be right beside us, sharing our joy, offering a shoulder to cry on or the comfort of a heartfelt embrace. These are things no amount of technology advancements can ever fill or replace.

Busy schedules may at times be an obstacle and not all of us are social butterflies (as in, we may not actually want to meet up with anyone and everyone) but if you're on holidays right now, maybe its a good time to meet up with the friends you really want to and not just say "we should catch up". Make that effort and initiate something.

I think its important for all of us to make time for the people who matter regardless of how crazy life gets. True that it may not be about the amount of times we hang out with them that defines a relationship, but hey its still about making the effort to maintain a meaningful one. Its about the human touch.

Remember all the memories and good times with our pals? Moments we laughed out loud, moments of meaningful silence, moments where we saw each other at our best and most vulnerable state, moments when we were there for each other, not just spiritually or virtually but physically as well? Perhaps now's a good time to continue creating those moments..