I love the Progressive commercials with Dr. Rick who tries to keep his clients from becoming their parents. In one commercial he plays a voicemail that someone named Julie left for him. Then he asks the group what Julie did wrong. While they answer with a variety of suggestions, he states that she didn’t even need to leave a voicemail that “9 out of 10 times a text will do.”
In our technologically advanced world, this is becoming all too true. I know some individuals in their 20’s and 30’s who won’t even answer a phone call but will only respond to a text. While I won’t discuss all of the reasons why they choose to do this, I will point out a limitation this creates for some.
A study was conducted in 2020 with “Meals on Wheels” clients, who were largely over the age of 65. In this study volunteers were recruited to make five phone calls, not texts but actual phone calls, a week to these clients for five weeks. What was discovered, while not earth shattering, or surprising for that matter, was the individuals receiving these phone calls experienced reduced depression, anxiety, and loneliness.
These results are significant as our population ages and lives longer. We have many senior citizens who feel cast aside and even forgotten. With that comes anxiety and depression. There is a lonely population out there who may include your parents, grandparents, or even great-grandparents, depending on your age. And this population is growing.
So, my encouragement today is simple – don’t take the fictitious Dr. Rick’s advice. Instead, pick up the phone and call someone who needs to hear your voice. Make a connection that may actually make somebody’s day. It is easy to do and won’t take long. Make that call.