I have something stuck in my craw today and I mean to cough it up and out, or at least, tap a keyboard and rid myself of the annoyance.
Phone and email solicitors dear reader: How do you feel about these unwelcome intruders and interlopers? Remember the olden days, when you could go out for a jaunt in the great outdoors, and you didn't have a clue who called you, until you pressed play on your answering machine? Do you recall playing back messages from friends or family that wanted you to call them back once you were in? Call me back, was the happy message most of the time.
I liked those times, now that I have a moment to consider missing them. I told a friend just this morning that I hate my phone, I mean hate my phone! This statement of fact will bring me to some new rules, but I will return to this point a little further on down this page.
I have a website, I have social media accounts, I have google my business. You probably have these intangibles too, among other virtual items onto which, you leave a little something of yourself as evidence that you exist, and have a personality, and opinions too. Better than these unreality realities, there are people roaming about that we get to interact with on a regular basis when we decide to leave our homes and go out there like people in the wild, braving humanity in all their world walking ways. I like people, but I am starting to strongly dislike solicitors.
When I am out in the world, I can make eye contact, smile at a stranger, or exchange a pleasantry about the weather. When I am on my phone or laptop, I feel like the deluge of dull exchanges begin, as soon as I open an email from someone I have never met, telling me that my website isn't visible, and if found by would be clients, lacks what it takes for me to snag interest and book my calendar solid. I get so many of these solicitors wanting me to hire them to improve my professional life, that I just plain old know they are lying about my find-ability, and I also know, that they are desperate for work, and their assignment is to play on insecurities to get cash out of pockets from their prey.
Is this how they make a living? Seriously?
I admit, to the person that called me just under an hour ago, I said, Blah, Blah, Blah, before hanging up. Perhaps I could have been more "professional" and "kind" to her, but ya know, she called me, not to talk about what I could do for her, but what she could do for me, for some money. The thick skin these people must have grown to be able to dial again, and again, after constant rebuffs, must be inches deep, and keep them safe from emotional insecurity.
Is this, I ask you again, a way to make a living? Seriously?
I promised I would return to my new rules regarding use of my phone, but I must tell you that they are not really new rules, they are rules I have established and adhered to for some time, I just haven't typed them onto a blog page thus far, but today is the day, dear reader!
1. When I am at home, and not working with a client, my phone sits solo in my bedroom. I mind my own business and that thing can grow moss for all I care.
2. I block emails and phone numbers frequently, immediately following exchanges with solicitors.
3. If someone wants to see me or talk with me, and the feeling is mutual, I plan a time and place to meet, whether in person or via a phone visit. I do not spend endless time on messenger. There are very few people I will spend time with via text messaging (I can count the number of people I do this with on one hand).
4. I do not answer all the messages I get, or tap the arrow to play videos people send. I decided that if I am going to watch youtube or check out something on instagram, I determine what interests me before my search. I have experienced regret after seeing and hearing some videos sent by people I do not know, other than being acquainted with them via social media - is that really knowing someone, I ask you? I resist most videos, even those sent by close friends. It's like this: If I want to do something, I get to choose, but if someone else wants me to do something, ummm, HELLO, I still get to choose! Yup, you get to choose too!
5. Here is the big one, dear reader, are you ready? I don't feel obligated... I used to feel like I must respond or give an opinion or extend the curtesy of reply, but this is not the case for most things that come through the devices that are supposedly aids and improvements to my life. Most stuff is junk and trash ready before opening; some of it is blue box recycling material that one puts out near the curb for pick-up.
Can you relate to what I am sharing?
Is it time for you to prioritize and perhaps, protect your peace by not even opening the door to people that were never invited in, in the first place?
What do you get from being overly accessible?
Can you live without interruption of the nonsensical variety?
Thanks for staying with me. I feel like the thing stuck in my craw has been dislodged and cleared from my throat after sharing here on the written page. I sure do hope you take the time to make your own social media and electronic devices rules. Peace comes from tranquility, and we can have none of that, when intruders and interlopers have set their sights on us as marks and we engage with them, or when we allow anyone and everyone to influence us with what interests them.
You have the freedom to choose the what, the when, the where, and the how, of all your interactions. Isn't this grand, dear one?
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