Be Present
   
I received an e-mail from someone who attended one of my training sessions a few months ago.  Here is her e-mail:

I had to write and tell you how I have applied something from your training.  You had told a couple of stories regarding cell phones and one of the things you said really stuck with me.  You said that if you have someone in front of you and you are on your cell phone, then you are basically telling the person in front of you that the cell phone (whether you are texting, using FB or playing a game) is more important than they are.

I was at dinner with my mom when I received a work e-mail.  It was something I felt I needed to take care of immediately, so I did.  It was a group e-mail and the e-mails kept coming so I responded.  

I was taking a drink of my water and looked up and saw my mom, who was staring out the window.  At that moment I realized something.  I realized that when my mother passes away someday, I will look back and wish I had more time with her.  I will miss our conversations.  I will miss our time together.  And even though we are “together” today, I am not truly present.

At that point I put my cell phone in my purse and asked my mother how she was doing.  She got a smile on her face and we had a wonderful conversation.  You can feel free to share this story in your class.  Hopefully it will remind everyone that we will miss the person in front of us someday and now is the only time we have.