By Lois E. Wilson
Early in life, children begin making connections with the world and people around them. Their first connections are likely to parents, the ones who feed and take care of their needs. They may reject strangers, other family members and friends, and new babysitters when these make advances to pick them up or try to communicate with them. They are wary.
Some develop behaviors which others find offensive: crying when put down, wanting the pacifier or sucking a thumb all the time, carrying a stuffed animal or security blanket wherever they go, and rocking back and forth. Some of these actions are soothing to them and perhaps remind them of a time when they felt safe. Then there are temper tantrums where children seem to be blocking out all connections with anyone but their own feelings.
As they mature, they connect with activities and things they like. There are favorite songs, stories, TV shows, maybe preschool, Sunday school, and friends. This desire to be connected does not usually disappear with age; it modifies as they expand their social development.
In the 70’s through 90’s, many teens felt connected and secure when they had a boom box resting on their shoulder blaring out music. This trend is coming back. The internet has many examples for sale. Now many teens are engrossed in video games.
Have you ever been in a waiting room and observed the number of people of all ages texting or checking on their smart phones to learn what is going on that very minute? Many seem to be on their devices 24/7. Several years ago in a verse I wryly predicted that children would evolve and be born with cell phones on their ears.
I don’t do social media or texting; however, I do enjoy acronyms—many of which come from those activities. My daughter-in-law made me aware of one which I had not discovered before. It is FOMO; it means “Fear of Missing Out.” It is reported to have been coined in 2004 by Patrick J. McGinnis of Harvard Business School. It appeared in its magazine along with another article by academic Joseph Reagle. In the area of business, FOMO could mean fear of missing out on information that would provide better results when investing.
In everyday life, FOMO can be a catalyst for social anxiety which occurs when people believe they are missing out and are not connected to others who are having fun or even regrets. Some who have studied FOMO claim it negatively impacts psychological health and well-being.
FOMO suggests to me that we all need to deal with our “missing out” feelings of solitude. We can connect with others and enrich lives or develop hobbies which we enjoy alone. To fill emptiness—try painting, gardening, sewing; you could learn to play a musical instrument. To connect to others—volunteer at hospitals, churches, schools, or programs like Empowering Darke County Youth. Connect with yourself in relaxation, meditation and prayer. Any options like the above will be a plus in your life.