By Trey Honeycutt
Society today is becoming more and more distant, and it is happening at such an alarming rate that it’s becoming problematic.
There are many factors which play into this problem, but nevertheless, something needs to be done about it. For example, it’s not uncommon these days to walk into a grocery store and see small children playing games or watching movies on Mommy’s iPad. What ever happened to just giving them a stuffed animal or an action figure to entertain themselves? It’s an easy way to keep their attention focused on one thing while parents rush around buying groceries for the next week.
As young adults, we are guilty of the same exact things. We like to take the easy way out. Instead of truly investing in people and having intentional conversations, we are too worried about what’s happening on Facebook or Instagram. I cannot count the number of times I have walked into a room full of people and no one is saying a word because everybody is too infatuated with their phones.
One of my biggest pet peeves is when I can tell that people are asking questions they really don’t want the answers to, as seen with the common everyday question: “Hey man! How are you?” Your buddy asks this as he runs by you to class, and you know he is just making conversation and does not actually have time hear what you have to say. You then reply with the textbook answer: “I’m doing well. How are you?”
I’ve learned the best and most enriching conversations you will have with people are unexpected ones. I love talking to cashiers at stores or waiters at restaurants and asking how their day is going, because I enjoy the wide range of responses they give.
Half the time, they’re caught off guard that you would take the time to ask them how they are doing. For example, a friend and I have become close friends with this waiter at Chuy’s because one day we took the time to ask him how his day was going and genuinely meant it.
I know sometimes it can feel weird and out of ordinary, but unplug and look around; you’ll be amazed what you will find.
Trey Honeycutt is a sophomore from Sugar Land. He is a photographer for the Lariat.
