Bowling Alone!

Author Robert Putman makes interesting observations and shares researched insights about the changing nature of our society. If you haven't already noticed, we are not connecting much anymore and the sense of community and interactions we once experienced have all but vanished.

We communicate via email, fax, cell phone, text messages and all sorts of indirect means to get "connected". We eat on the run,cross paths with numerous people each day we choose not to acknowledge. We ignore neighbors at common mail box collection areas, and often sit in work cubicles electing not to know or engage co- workers.

Professionals often attend seminars and decide not to speak or even notice those who they have shared common interests and several hours of time. People both young and old share space and time without noticing or even responding in positive ways to one another.

We once bowled in leagues, hung out with each other, actually knew our neighbors and somehow those connections mattered. We were better for who we knew and we appreciated being known and valued by others.

Although texting and email is connecting, we may not be connected in ways that matter. Bowling Alone might be the symbol for what we have become, it doesn't have to be the way we always are.