When was the last time you called a family member or friend just to say "hi"? No other reason, not to arrange to meet, not to see if they got your e-mail, just for the express purpost of saying hello and finding out how they are doing? Is it often or rarely?
I try to call at least weekly. I know some of you are somewhat neglected ( hi Alyca and Jobie) but I DO try to call and chat. Just say HI, How Ya' Doin'? I think that is important in any relationship; an interest in their welfare. How is their week going? Are they happy, sad? Can you make their day brighter?
I've met people who don't call ever unless it's for a purpose: invite to this, investigate about that. I'd like feedback from everyone! How often do YOU call or contact friends and family, and WHY do you contact that often/rarely?
6 comments:
Family : we are lucky enough to live close to both sets of families and so we see them every day or at least every week - so in contact naturally.
Friends: I'm much slacker. I never ring people just because - but I will email. I hate talking on the phone!
I call people every week or so. I rarely have anything to say, so it is always just to say hi.
I did an experiment once of not calling anyone, and seeing if THEY would call ME, but after about a month and no calls, I quit that and started calling again. I think Mom did call me, though....
I call my MIL at least once a week and my parents probably once or twice when they are not in Mexico. My brother at least once or twice a month. One SIL I see everyday and we call each other at least five times a week I would say. The other SIL I probably hardly ever call but I don't really hang out with her and she never calls me either so it is pretty even there.
I think ANY relationship family or otherwise cannot be assumed if you do not put work into it. Yeh, my brother will still be my brother but I won't truly have a RELATIONSHIP with him if I don't put a little work into it. It is the difference between having a relative and a relationship.
I've gotta be honest, I don't really ever call friends just because I hate talking on the phone-I just email or blog them. When it comes to family, however, I call everyone at least once a week just to say hi. I miss them a lot, even though we're only 4 hours apart!
Yeah I'm horrible about the phone! I don't like talking on the phone so very rarely do I call someone just to say hi. I enjoy rather talking over email or IM. With family it's about the same as friends, the phone is just not my friend anymore. Maybe it's because in high school I was on it for hours at a time and now I can't stand it!
You know it was funny...right after I got off from reading blogs this morning, I was able to catch a minute of CNN and they were talking about how people don't have conversations or even develop deep relationships with many people anymore because we all depend on the internet to deliver our messages instead of talking to each other. It talked big time about how teenagers especially now have limited social skills because they don't talk to each other. They spend their evenings IMing or on their myspace. The psychologist stated that he felt that it made people less aware of others feelings, they felt less ownership in their so called relationships and the needs of the other party etc because they did not have to deal with that person on a one on one personal basis. They also tended to have more problems when it came to dealing with the opposite sex in a relationship setting.
I can personally admit to email being impersonal and misunderstood. Lots of hurt feelings on both sides could have been spared by phone calls or in person.
You personally know me and know that I am the kind of person who has to talk to people and most of my friends enjoy blogging or surfing the web but it doesn't get close to hearing each other's voice. In fact I have a couple friends who read my blog and never comment on it on the internet. They call me. They need to hear me laugh when they give me crap! I enjoy sharing a laugh with them too. When I post something funny...I don't get to hear anybody laugh and sometimes that makes me bummed.
Of course one of my SIL's always calls me and tells me I am a dork or something on that order if my blog makes her laugh. I appreciate the human contact. It's harder to feel the love from the monitor than it is from the smile in someones voice.
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