That Personal Touch . . .

In our high-tech, sophisticated culture here in America, now with artificial intelligence (AI) and automated phone calls, among other things, . . . it seems we are in danger of losing that personal touch.

When I was a child growing up in the foothills of the North Carolina mountains, people talked to each other. There were no televisions, no Smart phones, no computers, as we have today.

Just recently, I had a doctor’s appointment. Instead of being greeted by a smiling, warm receptionist, I was greeted by a machine for signing in, which told me to sit down and wait. Then I was called to a booth (one among many), for completing necessary forms, and then told to sit down and wait. There was a real person behind the desk, but not once did she smile. It was very impersonal.

I miss that personal touch.

In today’s world there is so much automation. We can do almost everything by picking up our phone, including . . . make appointments, get status reports, shop and place orders, and wait for our purchase to be delivered to our door. And, we don’t even have to speak—we can text our message, or send an email. And, how often do we receive those automated phone calls, relaying important information to us?

Touch is so important. Just recently, I injured a finger, it was almost broken, but not quite. And now I’m wearing a splint on that finger—for eight weeks. It is with our fingers we touch . . . objects, things, one another. This injury brought home to me the importance of being able to use our hands, our fingers . . . to touch. But we also touch with our words, our actions, our smiles (or frowns). And, who of us wouldn’t rather be greeted by a warm, smiling individual, than a cold machine?

For sure we love the convenience, the advantages this new technology offers, but let us not lose that personal touch. Just a friendly, “Hello! How are you?” can make someone’s day a happy one. And—don’t forget that smile!

“Kind words can be short and easy to speak,
but their echoes are truly endless.”
—Mother Teresa

Grace and peace to you,
Mary Emma