I had a conversation with a friend a few evenings ago by telephone — actually it was two friends from the same household and one handed the phone to the other so we could say “hi” while he had me on the line.  It sort of reminded me of the calls to my Grandma when I was a child and she would hand the phone to Grandpa so that could say “hello” to him too.

It now strikes me as a little unusual for me to have an “old fashioned” phone conversation.  I mean, I talk on the phone all the time…just look at my cell phone bill.   But I haven’t taken a lot of time to think about the quality or nature of the phone calls I normally make.  It seems that most of my phone calling is business — as in the business of life – quick calls to make appointments, pass on information, check on schedules, you know, all those those “to do’s” that you need to check off your mental list.

I think that “business” is the perfect description of these kinds of calls.  BUSY-NESS.  Its a state of mind that I am in while going about so much of my day.  Which means that pretty frequently when I call someone, it is with the purpose of putting that check mark beside the item on the “to do” list.   By the time I actually get to the speaking part of the phone call I have mentally moved on and my voice is simply a mechanism responding to the computer command of my brain to pass on whatever information it has ordered  it to process.

Now I know that this is pretty much how we all operate.  We all have tons of stuff to do and calls need to be quick and efficient.  We expect that the person on the other end is just as busy as we are and so economy of words is probably welcomed.

But my old fashioned phone call to my friends reminded me how much I could be missing by not being fully engaged.  How much more can I share and receive if I am prepared to be fully present?  I’m not saying every conversation has to be lengthy, but if it needs to be, am I ready?  Do I have my “hearing aid” within arms reach?

I think I am going to put this in my keeping it simple tool box.  Hopefully  I will be able to pop it in at the first signal.