Thanksgiving – Have a Real Conversation

I would like to start off by wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. This holiday is truly unique because it provides a great opportunity to reconnect with family and friends. Even though we associate Thanksgiving with food, it is also a social holiday.

I recently took a break from writing blogs due to my busy schedule. However, it was a blessing in disguise because it allowed me to reflect on what matters. As I’ve said in previous blogs and my latest book, The Best Version of You, we are very disconnected due to technology. Sure, technology is supposed to keep us connected, yet–that’s not really happening. We would rather hide behind our phones or computers instead of making eye contact with the person we’re talking to. FaceTime and Skype are unique, but they are not the same as face-to-face conversations.

Now that we can text and e-mail, people would rather text than have a real conversation. Consider this, if your son had some great news to tell you, which method would you prefer:

1. Text version: “Hey, Dad, I have great news. I got accepted to Ohio State University.” Your son has to wait for your response because he can’t see you. Therefore, he doesn’t see how excited, proud, and happy you are for him.
2. Face-to-face conversation: “Hey, Dad, I have great news. I got accepted to the Ohio State University.” You embrace him and tell him how excited, proud, and happy you are for him. Instead of him reading your response (text message) and guessing how you felt, he can see it. This helps create authenticity. You conveyed that you’re proud of him and demonstrated it. We really can’t do that when we send a text or an e-mail. We might think a creative emoji conveys the same message, but trust me, to your son, it doesn’t. Have a real conversation.

I am hoping you selected option 2: face-to-face conversation. No matter how busy you are, your loved ones deserve your full attention. Communicating only via texts and e-mail might convey the wrong message: You are not a priority to me. This might seem extreme, but to a child or loved one who desires your attention, it might be a huge deal. Step back and ask yourself, “How would I want to receive this information?”

Here are some benefits of a face-to-face conversation:

• It creates authenticity.
• It displays your genuine emotions and reactions. [body language]
• It conveys a more powerful message.
• It builds relationships.
• It helps prevent an argument or disconnect by eliminating the risk of typing a convoluted text. [What did you mean?]
• It creates additional conversations.
• It builds connection.
• It builds winning streaks.
• It tells people: What you have to say matters to me.

I challenge you to implement this into your Thanksgiving dinner, whether you’re celebrating at your house, a family member’s house, or a friend’s house. The world can use more face-to-face conversations, and you have the opportunity to help cultivate them.

For more information about the author: