Artificial Connection

0:00It's simple, but true. We all need connection. It's wired into our DNA. In fact, human relationship is so important to our well-being that will create artificial versions when we don't have the real thing. One example of this is a restaurant in Virginia that reopened in a unique way after the COVID pandemic. To facilitate social distancing, each of the empty tables was filled with mannequins. The owner said the goal was to offer patrons a full dining experience, and a full dining experience meant feeling connected with other people even if they couldn't be together in reality. Another example comes from the movie Castaway. After Tom Hanks' character, Chuck Nolan, is stranded alone on an island. He starts talking to a volleyball that he nicknames Wilson. For four years, Wilson is Chuck's friend and confidant. In fact, Chuck becomes so attached to Wilson that when Wilson drifts out to sea, Chuck breaks into tears over his loss. Like I said,

1:02when genuine connection isn't available, we'll create artificial versions of it. But remember this, the quality of our lives is a direct reflection of the quality of our relationships. Conveniences like email, texting, social media, and video conferencing are wonderful tools, but they only simulate connection. None of them can replace face-to-face human-to-human interaction. For focus on the family, I'm Jim Daley.