Today I was on one of those “Hold for the next available representative” calls with a government agency. My estimated wait time was 30-60 minutes, which was more than I want to sit and wait for most anything, but I put the phone on “speaker” and continued on about my day to dailies, listening for a break in the music. When it came, I grabbed the phone and *fortunately* remembered to hit the speaker button and not the talk button–just as I had practiced.
Yeah. I practiced it. This was the real deal. Nobody deserves to be disconnected after waiting that long. NOBODY.
I was very lucky, and I got a friendly representative who was extremely helpful. Maybe it’s because I introduced myself and said it was nice to meet her (seriously, it was–did I mention the WAIT TIME–I was just thankful to have a person on the line at all) or maybe it was because it’s Friday or maybe she was just having a great day. Or she was a genuinely kind person.
I’m inclined to think it might have been a little bit of all of that.
She was telling me about yet another form I needed to fill out and send back to them. Well, great. I was worried that I might not have the right form AND that I wouldn’t know what I was doing, so I asked her a favor.
“Ummm, Ms. B, do you mind if I look up that form and make sure I know what you’re talking about before I let you go?”
“Honey, you go right ahead. Take your time.” Bless her. Okay, maybe not so much for the people still on hold, but I appreciated her for that. And for calling me honey. That eased all kinds of stress.
“Okay, thank you ma’am, let me grab my computer, and I’ll look it right up.”
And that’s when it hit me how much things have changed even in my lifetime. The fact that I said “grab my computer” rather than “go to my computer”–the portability of internet access is amazing.
Amazing and challenging.
I was recently in conversation with folks who work with college students. It’s a whole new ballgame now. The students can “Facebook stalk” or check out other students on other social media way before they even set foot on campus. First impressions are already made.
We wrote letters way back when I started college. You know, “back in my day.” In the snow. In the shadow of the dinosaurs.
There’s the world of social media which can do so much good and so much harm–an extension of what our words can do all by themselves, amplified by the number of “friends” “listening.” There are the laptops and tablets and smartphones and even watches for goodness’ sake that keep us accessible to information, entertainment, and each other way more than ever before. In fact, the only reason some folks are ever out of “touch” is the WiFi is down. Or they are in a poor service area.
Seems a shame, doesn’t it?
And yet, when we can send pictures of newborns and graduates and ballet dances and first bike rides along the way to loved ones who might not otherwise have seen them, it’s a win for the advancement we’ve seen in technology. When a parent can check in with her college student without setting foot on campus or calling every single night, that’s a definite win. When a company can interview someone who is perfect for the position but would need to relocate, technology is the reason why. And when a family can laugh and talk and visit with that someone they love who is thousands of miles away, that is a huge win.
Tonight I’m thankful for kind souls who work in jobs where they never see the person they are helping and still treat them like people–with compassion and respect. I’m thankful for the advancements in technology that allow folks to stay connected–seeing smiles, sharing moments, laughter, and tears. Most of all, I give thanks that I can still hear my Daddy’s words on a regular basis in my head and heart. Words that keep me in check. “Make it work for you, you don’t work for it.” He was talking about Facebook specifically, but I’m pretty sure he’d agree it applies to all of technology in general.
May we all continue to strive for that balance.
Love to all.
I Might Need A Nap 