My dad made a New Year's resolution that I think is brilliant and plan on doing myself as well. He plans to 'talk more and text less' with friends and loved ones. It sounds so simple but really makes a difference in your life and the lives of those around you.

Technology has made it so we are supposed to be more in touch with each other but it has actually had the opposite effect. We may type words to each other but we are lacking human touch and communication. We have all had situations where you are talking to someone and you can 'hear something in their voice' that isn't quite right. You will ask how they are and they will respond 'fine' but you can tell there is something else going on with them and as a fried, you delve deeper and get them to open up and talk about something they may have desperately needed to talk about but had no one to talk to. You will never be able to know they needed you if you just text them and ask how they are. You know they respond that they are fine and you go on with your day thinking you had checked on a friend. They deserve more from you. We need to start talking to each other again and feeling the emotion and humanness inside us. We are not machines and we need to start acting like it. Don't let technology take the place of our hearts, like it has our minds.

Today make a vow to reach out and talk to those who mean something to you. Have an actual conversation and listen to what you hear. You may be surprised and you may be needed. I know my dad's call helped me big time when I really needed it but said I was 'fine'. You may be able to do the same thing for someone you care about.

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