Pay Attention

This post is for all of you that are compelled to check your email via your Blackberry or IPhone devices while dining, socializing, during family gatherings, before going to bed, before getting up, during your child’s football/soccer/lacrosse/dance event and any number of places where you feel compelled to check your device for something far more interesting than my conversation with you. First, it is extremely rude. Second, you are an addict – you need help. Third, if you are trying to make yourself look important and extremely needed by your employer, the people with you are not impressed. They feel sorry for you and think that you are rude. When you are in a meeting where you feel compelled to hide your device under the table and secretly check it, understand that everyone knows what you are doing. They know that it is the oldest trick in the book and that you are paying absolutely no attention to what is being said at the moment. My son tried to check his text messages the other night at the dinner table. When I asked him a question and did not receive eye contact, only a view of the top of his head, I demanded he turn over the phone and I threw it out the back door. It is a shame the dogs didn’t chew it up.

Put the devices down. If the building is on fire, or there is an emergency, I promise, they will find you. It may be via an old-fashioned phone call, or in the case of a fire, smoke signals, but they will find you. Focus on the people in front of you and show them the same respect they show you as they pretend not to notice your compulsion. Life is short. Pay attention.