Trust issues
In 2000, Linkin Park first released its album, Hybrid Theory. It seems like every song in this album became a hit. Most of us sang to ourselves, “It’s like I’m paranoid lookin’ over my back. It’s like a whirlwind inside of my head. It’s like I can’t stop what I’m hearing within. It’s like the face inside is right beneath my skin,” at the top of our lungs while we brushed our teeth in the morning and in the car on the way to school. The lack of response from your texting buddy sends a message. That does not necessarily mean, “Hey, baby. I’m ignoring you right now because I’m busy dating other people while you’re at work.” It can also mean, “Hey, baby. I’m sorry but there are sudden meetings scheduled at work today. I can’t really pick up my phone right now, but I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.” No matter how hard we try to deny it, we have trust issues. And if seeing the blue ticks also ticks you off every time, chances are you have it too. It may have rooted from unfavorable past relationships or parents who abandoned us as kids. Now that we have welcomed the hook-up culture, it is certainly not an easy-to-break habit.
The Invisible Earphones We Wear
In grade school, you may have had a teacher tell you, “Listening is the key to loving.” As annoyingly cliché as it may have sounded, she was right all along. Communication used to be a two-way street. Two or more parties that talk and listen to one another equally is supposed to be mutually beneficial. As technology allows us to communicate simpler and faster, we tend to relegate, making it more challenging and frustrating. You may have friends tell you not to apologize when you do not reply on time. Sometimes, some people just do not need any form of explanation. Therefore, you should try to practice listening, even the things we don’t want to hear. This isn’t always easy. There is always another perspective when we ignore other people and their messages.
In a Committed Relationship with My Cell Phone
“What are you doing right now?” seems to be a question you’re itching to have answered. By the end of the day, you’re worn out waiting for a reply, so you send another text. Save your time and focus your energy on another activity. When we work on the computer for most of the day with notifications constantly bombarding our screen, sometimes you wish you could take a moment to have a break from all of the noise. Instead, save your social media activity for events like music festivals, award ceremonies and sports finals. Have you ever thought to pick up the phone instead of worrying about the notifications on your WhatsApp messages? Phone calls save you time, not to mention the physical strain you put on your fingers. SMS messages can take you five to ten minutes to type and sometime to read.
Instant Noodles, Instant Coffee, Instant Cash
Millennials are often condemned because we like immediate gratification. You might panic waiting to receive a new message or right after the blue ticks appear on your screen. In this case your relationships might stress you out too much. If your relationships stress you more than bring you joy, reconsider which relationships you should keep and which you should move away from. Relationships require work, commitment and an investment of your time. Determine which relationships are best for you and don’t let the blue ticks on WhatsApp stress you out so much. Make sure to practice patience because good things come to those who wait. Featured photo credit: WhatsApp, landahlauts on Flickr via flickr.com
