The Ledger

By Becky Holland

I have a pet peeve.

Actually, I have several, but today we’ll focus on one.

It has nothing to do with politics, potholes or whether pineapple belongs on pizza.

It has to do with one little word.

“Got it.”

Or “OK.”

Or even a simple thumbs-up emoji.

If I text you and ask, “Can you call me when you have five minutes?” and I know good and well you practically have your phone surgically attached to your hand, my imagination doesn’t take long to kick in.

After an hour, I figure you’re busy.

After two hours, I start wondering if something came up.

After four hours, I’ve convinced myself you’ve dropped your phone in the Ocmulgee River or accidentally joined the Witness Protection Program.

Now before anybody starts writing me an email explaining that people are busy, let me save you the trouble.

I know.

People work.

People have families.

People have appointments.

Phones die.

Technology glitches.

Life happens.

I understand all of that.

In fact, I’m a big believer in boundaries. We don’t owe everyone an immediate response every time our phone buzzes. Some days we’re in meetings. Some days we’re with family. Some days we simply need a break from the world.

I respect that.

But here’s where I struggle.

Twenty-four hours later… I see you’ve posted on Facebook, commented on three friends’ photos, liked somebody’s vacation pictures and shared a recipe for banana pudding.

Surely somewhere in there you had time for an “OK.”

I’m not asking for a novel.

I’m not asking you to stop what you’re doing.

I’m not even asking you to answer my question right away.

I’m simply asking for acknowledgment.

Something that says, “I saw your message.”

That’s all.

Maybe this isn’t really about text messages.

Maybe it’s about something we’ve slowly lost.

The little courtesies.

The tiny gestures that let people know they matter.

Holding the door.

Waving at a neighbor.

Sending a thank-you note.

Answering a phone call when you can.

Or simply letting someone know you received their message.

Those little things don’t cost us anything, but they say a lot.

Maybe I’m old-fashioned.

Maybe spending more than three decades in journalism has made me appreciate communication a little more than the average person.

Or maybe I just believe that taking two seconds to acknowledge another human being is still worth the effort.

A thumbs-up.

An “OK.”

A “Can’t talk right now.”

None of those are long.

None of them require much thought.

But they all say the same thing.

“I saw you.”

And in a world where so many people wonder if anyone notices them at all, that may be one of the kindest messages we can send.