Lost art...

There was a time, not that long ago, one could stumble into a coffee house and enjoy the rewards of finding a table of friendly bards willing to embrace and rescue your lost soul from the drought of intellectual feasts you were starving for. As the aroma of roasted beans from across the continents filled the room, voices would be showcased as symphonies, jazz sessions and rock concerts all mixed in a bouquet of sounds, ideas and philosophies that were expressed in a manner that only passion could be used to describe. What a sanctuary of diversity. Wit and wisdom on full display.

But what has happened to us? Have we forgotten what it is like to sit around a table and discuss the knowledge that explodes from within based on the roads and adventures that have made this destination another stop on the path to a self fulling prophecy?

In the digital world, where we have become deities wielding the power of the universe in the palms of our hands, I am fearful that we are losing our ability to connect and enjoy the beauties that surround us. There is much more to life and the ability to enjoy the wonders of world than the narrow view that a screen provides. You can't smell a rose on a high definition, state of the art smart phone. The silky petals can not be caressed on a glass screen that creates a barrier to what is on the other side of the lens.

One of the best conversations I was able to experience took place on an airplane, a place where I am typically the exemplification of anti-social behavior; I had the pleasure of spending nearly 5 hours getting to know another human being. Years later, the laughter and accent haunt me in the most comforting way possible as I replay in my mind and hear the entire conversation in exceptional detail, causing avalanches of raw emotions to vehemently flood my brain with throngs of hope and love that help remind me of a life well lived.

It is my hallucination that you would be able to reflect on a similar time in your life. A time when you were able to engage in a conversation that impacted your life in such a manner that wings were sprouted from your soul. Take that leap of faith and in lieu of sending that text, use that hallowed appendage to locate a meeting place to sit face to face and chat in the flesh. Go on, what's the worst thing that could come of this, you enjoy a cup of coffee or tea that reminds you of the nectar of the gods?