Lately, I’ve been observing the interactions of myself and the people around me as we go through day to day life. I’ve noticed a lot of things but mostly that we don’t seem to care about each other. Our conversations lack substance and our overall interest is almost nonexistent. Here are my thoughts on this generational dilemma.

Put It Down.

In today’s society, it’s completely normal to see a group of college friends out, and every single one of them is looking at their phones. Why is this okay? When was the last time you had dinner with a friend and didn’t look at your phone once? Why are the distractions on your phone more important than the person sitting right beside you? Put your phone down and take advantage of the time you have with your friends before that time is gone. You don’t always have to take a picture of your food because honestly, your followers on Snapchat don’t care what you're eating for dinner. (I’m so guilty of that, by the way.) It’s time to wake up. Next time you go out, leave your phone at home or in the car. If you can’t leave without it, then leave it in your pocket. Try to enjoy the company of the people you're with without using your phone a single time. I dare you.

The people in front of you matter.

Pay attention to them. Listen to what they have to say and respond to their thoughts genuinely. It’s so easy to engage in a conversation and listen only to respond. Did you even hear what they were saying, or were you focusing your thoughts on your response? Were you just waiting for them to stop talking so you could change the subject and talk about yourself? It’s important to give the people that matter to you the attention that you'd like to receive when your talking. Open up your ears and listen to what your friends are saying.

Have an actual conversation.

I fall into this trap more frequently than I feel comfortable admitting. It’s so easy to go out for coffee with a friend and talk about other people. When gossip becomes your only form of communication, what’s the point of communicating? Is it simply to tear others down? When was the last time that you sat with a friend and talked about your hopes and dreams? Have you gotten so caught up in your surroundings that you forgot about your aspirations? The next time you’re out with a friend, think about these things and then ask about them in their life. Build each other up. Have conversations that matter.

Be vulnerable.

I won’t lie, I really don’t have any room to talk here. A lot of thoughts run through my head that I’d never dare to tell anyone. But when you find a friend who listens and cares what you have to say, say the things that you normally wouldn't tell anyone. Sometimes my thoughts don’t even make sense to me, but talking through those thoughts can often bring meaning to them that I didn’t recognize prior. When you open your heart to someone and tell them what’s been on your mind, they are much more likely to tell you the things that have been troubling/inspiring them. This is how relationships are formed and strengthened.