Make no mistake – social media is awesome! Having a faster way to communicate with our families and get pictures of our wonderful grandchildren is a daily energy boost. When we were growing up, families rarely strayed too far from each other because of economics. It was better to pool resources together to make sure everyone could afford a roof over their head and put food on the table. We were around cousins, grandparents, and brothers and sisters all the time. But today, that may not be possible, for various reasons. Families have to relocate to have access to better opportunities, children relocate to attend college and stay in the area after graduation, or marriage compels a couple to choose between two childhood areas. Today’s families are more fragmented and it is not uncommon for them to be separated among several states. This is why social media is so awesome but it is also why face-to-face interaction is more important than ever.
Social interaction is vital for all generations, especially ours. Mental health is just as important as physical health and interacting with another human being, face-to-face, does wonders for our mental health. There are so many ways to join groups and get out into the world to bond with others so that we are not always alone. Communicating only through social media could result in increased feelings of isolation and loneliness https://www.mercycare.org/bhs/employee-assistance-program/eapforemployers/resources/health-benefits-of-social-interaction/ This is also important for our families, especially our grandchildren. They are growing up in a time when social interaction is minimal and, during a pandemic, is discouraged. If our children and grandchildren get used to communicating with us through social media, we can’t gauge what is really going on in their lives and they can’t get those necessary hugs from us. You can’t wipe away tears, or cheer at little league games, or help chop onions for Sunday dinner together on social media.
The only good thing to come out of living through a pandemic is that we all learned the value of togetherness and it would be a shame if we lost track of that once it is contained. Family members and friends need our knowledge and expertise, which can be given through social media, but they also need a helping hand and our presence, in person, face-to-face. And we need it too.
See you soon!
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