Brave New World

Lets talk about eating and if you know me then you know this subject holds a special place in my heart (stomach). Today I'm going to contain myself and not talk about steak, ribs, Hot apple pie with cold vanilla ice cream, or homemade mack n cheese.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . sorry I had to go get something to eat. What I really want to talk about is eating together, whether that be in a restaurant or at home at the dinner table. I think you are seriously stealing a opportunity from yourself and the other members of your family if you don't get rid of distractions. That means turning off the TV and shutting down the cell phones.
 
If a two hour movie is worth turning off your phone for then I don't think 20 minutes is going to kill you. If you are the parent and you can't make your kids put down the phone then I think you should reevaluate your parenting game plan. There is nothing more important then to spend real time with your family and if that's only 20 minutes a day then that's better then nothing. You might be asking yourself how is this helping others. I think you should try it for a week and it will be quite clear on the benefits for everyone in your family.
 
Now I know this is a uphill battle because their are a lot of parents that are just as addicted to their phones as the kids. You have to look at it this way. That text is still going to be there when you done with dinner along with that tweet, Instagram and Facebook message. IF you turn off the phone for 20 minutes you social status is not going to change any. The people that liked you will still like you. The people that don't still won't and you will be looked at the exact same way in your social circles the next day. The only thing that might change is you might be envied more for the real time you spend together but don't expect them to tell you that.
 
So now that I've insulted your whole families sensibilities I hope you can look past that and maybe start a new family tradition. I don't know, maybe we are destined to walk the earth being socially available at all times without ever physically talking to someone. Sometimes I even leave the house without my phone, oh yes I did. Come join my brave new world.  PS if you eating with your family right now, stop reading and start talking.