I know I am going to sound like an old timer when I say this, but technology is too prevalent in our lives it seems. Although I do have various social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) it sometimes gets to be too much. One gets to know their friends through their various posts, shares, likes and retweets, but the idea that we are more connected now then ever before doesn't seem to ring true.

Towards the end of my junior year at UW-Eau Claire, I was writing thoughts down in my notebook one morning and an idea came to me. I couldn't think of the last time that I had gotten something in the mail that I didn't send to myself or that wasn't a bill of some sort. Maybe it's just me, but I think receiving a letter in the mail is like opening up a present each time you get one. Anyways, back to my idea. What I wanted to do this summer was to try to communicate with as many people as possible through the "old school" way of communicating. These old school ways include written letters, phone calls (not text messages) and face-to-face conversation. While it may appear that I have a lot of friends on Facebook, I truly don't know that many people. That's something I want to change. While it may be easier to send a text to see how things are going, I feel there is much more thought put into writing a letter to someone. It's the "If your hand doesn't cramp up, you aren't writing enough," kind of mentality.

So, what's the point? Why are you doing this?

There's no end goal in mind. This is something that I look to continue to do with friends for years to come. I feel as though it is a better way to stay in touch with people and a way to get to know them better. I'm willing to bet many of us have misinterpreted a text message or an email before, haven't we? You think that a person may be angry, sarcastic or God knows what kind of emotion they are showing! With more phone conversations and face-to-face interactions, there is a better likelihood that things won't get lost in translation. That's where true connection and true friendships are formed. My hope is to create more meaningful relationships with people through this. You might be saying, "Dalton, just be less awkward in public and create friendships that way." While you do have a point there, I find it easier to converse and hang out with people if I know them better beforehand. Call me crazy or whatever you will, but I am an introvert at heart.

If this old school way of communicating sounds like something you'd like to be a part of, please feel free to get a hold of me on Facebook and we can get the conversation going.