Huh?

Well, I am getting better.  I still have times when I'm talking and finishing something else.  But this week I've had two phone conversations where I was doing absolutely nothing else at the time!  Both of them I purposely planned for.  One was easy, it was during a time when I was waiting for my kids and was in a place free of distractions.  The other took a bit more self control.  I had a list of relatively mindless tasks to complete.  Normally, I would have initiated the phone call while I did these things, killing two birds with one stone.  But not this time.  I completed all my tasks, settled in my chair with a drink at my side and a blanket over my lap.  I was wrapped in pure ecstasy as I was able to give this friend my undivided attention.  Giddy as a school girl!  If it's been awhile since you had a conversation without any distractions, try it.  You'll like it!

Amy,

Thanks for the walk down memory lane.  I remember the first time my kids saw "that kind" of phone at my parents' house (not on the wall, but on the dresser...rotary dial with the coiled cord).  They looked at is quizzically and asked, "What is THAT?"

And thanks for the perspective.  Good way to look at the cell phone - a tool.  What a wonderfully simple approach!

This is something that cordless phones and cell phones have created.  Remember when you were tied to a cord that was attached to a wall that prevented you from doing anything that was outside a 5 foot radius.  There was nothing you could do but listen.

Cell phones are a great communication tool.  I have recently started using mine more.  But its most prominent use is for all the immediacies in life - Mom I am ready to be picked up, Can you get milk on the way home, When will you be home...not for conversations because it is too tempting to do the multi-task.

Amy

Thanks for all the comments!  Glad to know I'm not the only one who struggles in this area!  

This is tougher than I expected!  I've been amazed at how difficult it is to stop what I'm doing so I can fully concentrate on someone talking to me.  And how guilty I feel for not picking up the phone when I'm in the middle of something!  

At least I'm more aware.  And I've heard awareness is the first step to change.  So I'm on my way!

Hey Janey, Great posting! It is a very buddhist practice to be fully in the moment. How often we are multitasking while planning events ahead or remembering events past whilst still trying to take in something being said to us now?!

It is a practice I try to emulate every day. Sometimes, on rare occasion, I actually succeed and a real human connection happens.

How cool is that?

Sound advice and point well made Jane!

What a great point!  Listening should be so easy, but it's not, even based on other thoughts crowding our minds.  We owe it to those we care about to give them their moment and attention.  Thanks for the reminder.

Janey,

I've been listening to a Bible study about parenting that talks about this same thing.  She said that if we give the kids(our hubby, etc) our undivided attention, they will want to come to us when they are older b/c they know that we really care and we really want to listen.

Thanks for reminding me.  I need to put this into practice.