Debra Kunz

It never ceases to amaze me how obsessed people are with checking their smartphones. Constantly. Repeatedly. Like they are waiting for the cure to their day or maybe even their life.

Do you constantly pick up your phone while you are out on a date? Respond to every ding, chirp and ring? If you don’t, are you repeatedly wondering what’s happening that you might be missing? In that case, you are distracted and not listening to what your date is sharing about himself.

You know who you are, and that sheepish grin gives you away. Or, maybe you don’t realize this about yourself because it’s become such a habit. It’s “normal” that your phone is permanently attached to your fingers. Regardless, it’s unbelievably rude to the person you are spending time with, especially since you say you want to spend time with him.

If you want to get to know him, then make him your entire focus. You cannot possibly believe that taking calls, responding to text messages, looking up your latest Facebook posts, or reading the news is respectful of your date. If you’d rather give your attention to whomever or whatever is happening on your phone, then what are you doing on the date in the first place?

He deserves your undivided attention. Some of you are thinking, “Duh!” and others are thinking, “I know that.” Well, knowing and doing aren’t the same. Giving your phone more focus than your date clearly shows him that he isn’t the priority. The exception is the security call I discussed in my prior post, or an actual emergency.

Of course, this phone-focus issue is true in reverse. If he’s phone obsessed and not paying attention to you on your date – how does that make you feel? What are his priorities?

Date Deliberately,

Debra

P.S. This goes for your friends, family and anyone else you say you value. Being in their company, but always on your phone, is not honoring the love and friendship you say you have for them. It appears your priority is what’s happening on your phone, and not with who is in your life right in front of you. The reality is that’s what you are demonstrating, whether it’s true or not.