Okay, so here is a post I’ve been thinking about/noticing for at least a week now, but probably even longer…

It’s a problem that’s occured most obviously in the business world, but I believe spills into our personal, every day social atmospheres as well. This will probably not come as a shock. The previous sentence should come as a shock.

We are increasingly impersonal.

Two words I’ve used myself this past week have made me realize how much this affects each of us. Here they are…

Remember when someone did something nice to you? Your reply was probably “thank you”. A sign of gratitude directed right to a person…YOU. Thanking that person in particular for what they had done for YOU. An interaction between two “you”‘s. This past week, I caught myself saying “I appreciate it”. What’s the deal with that? Where did I pick that up? I’m pretty sure I picked it up in the business world, where nothing is personal….but unfortunately, the mentality seeps into my every day. When we use this phrase, it’s no longer an interaction between 2 people. We’re not thankful for the person who did this or that. We’re thankful instead for the actual “thing” that was done. I apologize if you’ve done something for me recently, and I said “I appreciate it.” What I really meant was: thank YOU. If you hear me slip up, slap me.

There’s a second area, if the first didn’t seem to phase you. How about the opposite? When someone offends you, or hurts your feelings? We see this not only in our own lives, but all over the news lately. How often do you hear “I’m sorry”? If you hear it, you’re lucky. The popular way to apologize these days is: “I apologize”. Same problem here….I apologize is a disconnected way to say “that thing that happened….oops”. “I’m sorry” is far too hard to say for most of us…why? Because it speaks humility. It always has. It’s supposed to. And let’s face it…we’re not very good at being humble people.

Anyways….these may seem like petty words, and you may think I’ve overanalyzed the topic….I probably have. I mean…most of my days are spent driving from one location to the next, so I have a lot of time to think about the interactions I have with these people. Deal with it. 🙂 I didn’t make you read this. 🙂 hehe

Seriously though….think about the little things this week. Say thank YOU. Say I am sorry. Be personal with people, even with they try to keep their wall up. You may offend some. You may scare some. But you also may connect with some.

Christ came that we may have life to it’s fullest….which includes our relationships with each other. In the words of DC Talk,

“we’re in the same crew, we’re singin’ one song……so we’re tearin’ down the walls”

Peace. <