Texting

Im not a phone person and i never have been but I am a texter..And I love it...because I dont have to face akward pauses and I feel comfortable not having to answer something if I dont want to. Same thing with facebook- instead of calling someone, I feel more comfortable sending a message or posting on their wall. But I have realized that I love texting and email for all the wrong reasons(most of the time). Brad Wilcox summed it up perfectly, he said in a Liahona article, "Its is pretty easy to feel like you have a protective wall around when you're texting... It is easy to fire off thoughtless invitations or biting responses because you feel safe. Such a feeling is not always healthy." That is so true- IT IS a safety thing for me- I feel safe not having to actually talk to someone- I can take a few minutes to think of the words I want to use which makes me say things I probably wouldnt say. But I want to change. Texting can be good, for example Im able to talk to my husband when he's at work, or send my family pictures of Tyson. But I have taken it too far and I have found myself thinking in pretty much every instance that I need to call someone, " I wonder if they have text messaging." Its getting so bad that I cant think of things to say when I'm in a real conversation and it has to stop "A returned missionary commented that, in his view, texting does not teach good communication skills. " When do you learn to carry on a conversation that lasts more than a few minutes?" he asked. "When do you learn to listen to verbal and nonverbal message that are being expressed?" "Perhaps the biggest drawback of texting is that it allows you to remain detached from people." said another return missionary. Relationships are like bank accounts: no deposit, no return. If you invest little in your efforts to reach out and interact with others, you get very little back." So if I text you a lot and not actually talk...Im sorry and I WILL do better. STARTING NOW