The Bombshell Factor™

Hello Bombshell!

I hope your world has been full of joy and the magnificence of the season!

My post is going to offend some people.  While it is never my intent to do so, I am compelled to write about something that deeply disturbs me and will accept the fallout without apology. 

WHAT IS WITH THE ELECTRONICS AT THE TABLE?? I  have noticed lately that texting/twittering at the table is almost an obsession.  What’s up with that?  An even bigger question is WHY??  Why is there such a frenzy to deliver earth-shattering news from a dining table??

Bombshells, if you are guilty of this, STOP.  STOP NOW.  Part of being a Bombshell is being present in the moment and enjoying the company you keep, even if that company is only YOU at the moment. 

 I have been asking around to see if someone could give me a great answer, a definitive answer, about why texting and twittering at the table has become so commonplace.  I wanted to get some kind of answer that was so thought-provoking, so perfect, that I could drop this subject.  The answers stunned me to the point that I could no longer remain silent.  One said they thought it was cool to tell friends what was happening while they were away.  Okay…this came from a grown-up, not a 12 year old.  I’m serious.  So instead of being present and engaging 100% with present company you are communicating with someone that didn’t want to couldn’t be there at the expense of an in-person connection?  And the point is…?

Another answer was that  ”this is my job so I really have to tweet many times through out the day!”  Uh, okay.  My job is to teach women how to be fabulous in their own skin and love who they are…but I don’t make a practice of stopping a delicious meal to go apply lipstick to another guest in the restaurant because she happened to show up in sweats and no makeup!  And I haven’t seen a physician stop his rare moment of relaxation to go table to table and make food recommendations that are heart-healthy.  And it’s been quite a while since I saw an etiquette consultant stop her meal and give lessons about which fork gets used first.  Have you ever seen a speaker get up and make a speech in the middle of a meal just because well, that’s her job?? 

I could go on and on, but my point is this.  There is a LASTING LEGACY that you are leaving in this world…an imprint of who you are…so when you are out with family/friends and you are checking email or tweeting about what a great restaurant you’re at (which is a great idea by the way–and guess what? It can be tweeted AFTER you eat!)  you are sending a very strong message to the world about what you value.  And you are sending an even stronger message to your loved ones about what you value!!  Is this the legacy you want to leave in the world?  That you chose to connect electronically more than you connected in person?  Is that REALLY what you want written on your tombstone? 

A question for my single Bombshells (and friends of Bombshells of course!)…do you want to put out the vibe that you are unavailable?  If you are sitting alone enjoying a coffee and are staring at your electronics then I assure you Mr. Wonderful has little to no interest in approaching you.  He will be more apt to approach the Bombshell that has a secret grin on her face as she people watches!  On another note, if you are a guy reading my blog (thank you very much!!) and you are guilty as charged, the Bombshell across the table has a line of suitors willing and ready to show her FULL attention!!  Is it worth losing an amazing woman? 

Studies are showing that just because someone has 2000 friends on twitter and a huge fanbase on Facebook, it doesn’t mean that they have a ton of friends that they actually spend time with….and sometimes the opposite is true-that they have many online friends and NO offline friends.  Is that you?

Bombshells….there is an amazing, wonderful life out there!!  Don’t miss out on one drop because you are too busy texting!   Just try it.  Engage fully at your next meal.  Your loved ones will thank you.

All the very best to you my darlings~XOXO Gigi Belmonico

6 Responses to “The power of IN PERSON Connection”

1. Lisa Says:
   December 5th, 2009 at 1:03 pm

   Hi Gigi!
   THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!<<< Yes! I am yelling! I am so glad someone has stepped up and said something! My family is NOT allowed to text, tweet or talk on the phone at the dinner table and I see so many people out at restaurants that do it, and I am so glad you spoke up!
   Thanks and keep the Bombshell fabulosity coming!

   Lisa =)

2. Gigi Says:
   December 6th, 2009 at 9:11 pm

   You are VERY welcome Bombshell!! I know my post might seem offensive to some… but we must think about what we are doing to our society when we are so preoocupied so much of the time!! Thank you for your support!! XOXO Gigi Belmonico

3. Jennifer Says:
   December 7th, 2009 at 12:42 pm

   I could not 100% agree more…I think we are so preoccupied with what we are doing…next, rather than who is in front of us now! Give the people you are with your undivided attention…build relationships and great things will happen.

   Love your blog! Keep up the FABULOUS work!

4. Tiffany @ The Gracious Pantry Says:
   January 5th, 2010 at 1:20 am

   Wow. Well said.

   I do not have an iPhone (~gasp!) and was pretty unaware of this new phenomenon until I went to a blogging convention in San Francisco. I was fully prepared to meet people and make new connections during our sit down meals.

   I was absolutely stunned and appalled when everyone around me pulled out there iPhones and started texting and tweeting and Facebooking and who knows what other “ing-ing”. Not a single person spoke to each other until the meal was almost finished.

   All I could think was… what the heck just happened? I just shared a meal with 8 people and I don’t know a single name or anything about them!

   Are we so lost in technology that we’ve forgotten how to speak to each other in person? I can’t imagine what could be so ground breaking that you would HAVE to tweet about it right then and there during your meal. The meal can’t be that great if your texting instead of eating!

   Don’t get me wrong. I love Twitter. I tweet regularly. But I would NEVER tweet during a meal, and certainly not at the expense of an enlightening, “get-to-know-you” conversation. I think we are losing so much with all this new technology. While it may be great, we need to learn to keep it in check.

   I mean, lets face it. Do all of your twitter friends REALLY need to know that you just ate a piece of lettuce? WHO CARES!!! Try talking to your “table-mates” about how delicious you think the salad is. To people who are there, in the moment, and can give you some live, in-person feedback. Who knows. You might have a chef at the table who could give you a really great recipe using a few slightly different ingredients then what you have in front of you. You won’t get that kind of instant feedback from twitter. At least not at any length. I mean, how much of a recipe can you share in 140 characters?? But you’ll never know if your eyes are only on your iPhone.

   Thanks for talking about this!
   Tiffany

5. Gigi Says:
   January 13th, 2010 at 2:32 pm

   Thank you for your feedback Tiffany! I am pretty sure I do NOT want to be a part of that “let’s pretend that we are so important that we don’t have to talk to our tablemates at all” group! I recently heard a Dr. say that this texting/twittering addiction is a high sign of insecurity and I believe that to be true. Why else would someone be so afraid to connect in person? The most charming woman (or man for that matter) at the table is the one who is FULLY ENGAGED, not the one ignoring everyone. I also love connecting with new people at events and I love it that you do too~let’s make a Bombshell pact to always be in the present moment with our loved ones and friends! Thank you again for writing and I look forward to learning more about you Bombshell!! XOXO Gigi Belmonico

6. Gigi Says:
   January 13th, 2010 at 2:33 pm

   Thank you Jennifer!! Connecting in person is SO much more fun anyway!! Have a GREAT day Bombshell!! Thank you SO much for your love and support! XOXO Gigi Belmonico

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