Imagine being six years old and sitting in the doctor’s office.

Your hearing test was abnormal, so your mom takes you to the doctor.

The doctor comes into the room and goes about the normal procedure: Listens to your heart; checks your eyes, ears, throat, and reflexes; flips through your chart while asking questions.  

He takes a closer look at your ears and says, “Aha! I see a slight blockage in your left ear. We’re going to clean it out, okay?”

A few minutes later the nurse comes into the room with a syringe. The alarm bells start going off because you realize they’re about to give you a shot in the ear…

What to do? Scream, of course, what else is there to do?

The nurses eventually peel you off the ceiling while reassuring you that there is no needle. They’re irrigating your ear because it’s stopped up like a pipe.

This is a true story.

I was that little girl.

Thinking back, the story is actually quite hilarious. However, the situation didn’t seem all that funny back then.

The truth is that most people do not listen.

What?

You didn’t hear me?

Why don’t you try putting down your cell phone? That might help.

Yes, close your laptop. Look me in the eyes.

Act like you are actually listening to what I am saying.

Technology is awesome, but I’m afraid that it is also ruining relationships. This might sound weird, but I wholeheartedly believe that technology can be a waxy buildup at times.

It’s so, so easy to be a lazy communicator when texting can get the job done just the same.

When you opt out of social events to play video games or surf the web.

When you like someone’s status on Facebook, but never talk to them in person.

Does anyone else see a problem?

Sometimes it’s good to be unplugged.

It causes you to pay attention, to really listen.

Don’t get me wrong. I love technology just as much as the next person, but technology CANNOT replace common courtesy, conversation, and personal relationships.