Standing in Line

Standing in line is a waste of time. I've heard all kinds of estimates of how much of our lives are wasted just standing in line. To pass the time we use our cell phones to call or text someone or even play a game. It's nice to have something to do when you're idle and bored. But is this really the best use of your time?

What did you do before cell phones? My guess is that you spent your time talking to people around you, observing behaviors of others or thinking of what you need to do next or what you just did. Each of these are relatively important but my concern is that today we are not developing some of the more important skills necessary to feel more fulfilled in our lives.

Interpersonal communication is something we develop from the time we are born until we take our last breath. If we don't engage with other people of different ages, cultures and experiences, we may not learn how to effectively read the emotions and reactions of others so that we can help to meet their needs and get our own needs met. Time spent in conversation is not only something we do, but it is something we need to do to more fully develop as human beings. Communication is an art when practiced over time can add meaning, value, and purpose to the connections made in our lives.

When we observe the behavior of others we connect to the community around us, getting out of ourselves and observing how others act and react to the world around them. Understanding and observing the behavior of others provides options for our own behavior. From these observations, we can learn valuable lessons about mistakes we don't necessarily have to or want to replicate. This allows us to become more attuned to our social setting and to the values, behaviors, and repercussions from others' experience.

It's often necessary to confront ourselves examining our past behaviors and determining whether we want to replicate or extinguish those moving forward. Learning from the past can help you from recreating the mistakes you have made or provide more positive outcomes for the future. Thinking about the future helps you determine what you want in your life and if you have the skills, knowledge, and behaviors to get you there.

Next time you're in line somewhere and have nothing to do instead of pulling out your cell phone, consider talking with someone around you or watching others. Perhaps you can learn from them and maybe take stock in where you have been and where you are going. Maybe in doing so, you can create more for yourself in the future.

Be well,

John