Life Lines

I got a note last night from a reader who also happens to be my sister-in-law.  She’s way more tuned in than am I to some areas of pop culture (I compensate by over-learning digital, I guess).  I couldn’t tell you what’s happening on The View with a gun to my head – she’s actually gone to see them live.  Anyway, she asked me a question that got me thinking.

Did you know that Millionaire took away “phone a friend”? Meredith announced today that, because of advances in technology, phone a friend will no longer be a life line, since many times the friend is using the Internet in order to obtain the answer and it compromises the integrity of the show (something like that). Anyway, I thought this was pretty earth shattering news! and it makes me sad.

OK, first, let’s not be sad over the Internet.  Frankly, I’m surprised it’s taken this long for the producers to figure out that anyone with a fast connection and a modicum of knowledge on using a search engine can pretty much find out anything in the course of 30 seconds.  But I do share her sadness about losing a life line and that’s what I was thinking about.

Everyone should have them because everyone needs them.  They get their names from a rope – a line – that’s used to protect or save people, usually from drowning.  But we need the human kind too.  Sometimes they’re at the desk outside your office, sometimes they’re on your speed dial but everyone has someone they can call who seems to know everything and is a reliable source of advice, information, or solace when you’re drowning in some way.  I’ve always loved that about “Millionaire” – you’re not all by yourself even if you end up never using the helpers available to you.

Who are the life lines around you?  Are you there as one for someone – a family member, a client, a friend – who might need to call?  Maybe you ought to let them know you’re there for them – you never know who’s drowning sometimes until you lose them.