Ink or Text

And the recent holidays don't count because for many those are "special" times.

How about the last time you picked up the telephone, cell phone or not, and actually called someone to chat? Remember those conversations where the person on the other end of the line could hear the inflection in your voice to know what you were thinking.

Can't remember? You're not alone. Some days, other than at the office, I don't use my phone for actual talking. But instead I text messages to my friends or they send messages to me.

The same goes for email.

But sometimes I actually miss talking on the telephone -- making that verbal connection with the outside world. Hearing a loved one's voice in my ear.

Besides that it's hard to make my feelings known through typed words.

Even with the pen and paper, I could do that. At least when I was irritated or mad about something I always wrote harder and often sloppier than when I was at peace. I still do and notice that in my handwritten daily journal.

But with the electronic age, conversations are so unemotional. At times it's hard to say what we really mean using a computer or a text message so I think there are often misunderstandings and mistakes.

I mean what do we have really with a text message or email, emoticons or capital letters? Do they really convey all you want to say? If so, I wish I knew your secret.

Now don't get me wrong, I think technology that brought email and texting is the wave of the future is wonderful. I mean I couldn't be writing this blog without it since I'm at home with the folks in SD for the time being on medical leave.

But don't you ever wonder if today's world would be less unfeeling and unemotional as it's become if we still walked across the street to say hello or picked up the phone instead of tapping out a quick message?

I'm not saying pen and paper and talking on the telephone is the answer. I'm just suggesting that maybe we need to have a little more emotion in our lives -- good or bad.

The next time you want to tap out an email or a text message to say hello to mom or dad or your siblings or friends, just think about it...

Could you say the same thing with a quick telephone call? Would the person on the other end like to hear your voice? Would that person (especially older generations) enjoy a paper card with a quick note inside?

It's not always possible, but I plan to think about it.

I encourage you to do the same.