Sean Dengler. PHOTO BY SOREN M. PETERSON

This past weekend my wife and I went to the grand reopening of the Val Air Ballroom in West Des Moines. Only a few years ago, we went to a concert at this venue, and I was thankful they kept the lights dimmed as much as possible. Soon after this concert, the venue was closed for remodel.

Spruced up with a new sound system and new paint, the Val Air is looking youthful. While different bands were taking the stage as my wife and I sat at a table off to the side of the ballroom floor, I thought about the history of the building. In fact, specifically, how many people had come and danced on this floor, especially when ballroom dancing was at its height. This experience was not only confined to the West Des Moines or Des Moines crowd, but for Iowans across the state.

Not everyone living during the 1940s and 1950s were dancers, but it seems like it was a popular trend. From my background, both sets of my grandparents met at a dance. This thought of where people at this time all piled into a car for a night of dancing, and some were inevitably looking for that special someone. While most have sadly passed who partook in this activity at its height, it is a unique experience which will not happen again.

It was a time for society when television, radio, and especially, social media were not as prevalent or did not exist at this time. Dancing was a big activity, and it led to a social gathering of people in one place for at least one night. How often does this still happen? It is doubtful it does not happen at all, but with social media’s prevalence, it is easier to stay connected through the internet than to pile into a car to go connect in real life.

Humans are social creatures. As much FaceTime, Facebook messaging, TikTok watching people can do, it does not replace the need for human-to-human interaction. When these interactions are lacking, it hurts society. When people gather and are around other humans, the more it helps a person and their own well-being.

When I spend more time on social media throughout the day, I do not feel as happy. When I avoid social media by going out into the world and talking with others, life feels better. More research has shown spending too much time online is not healthy, and hopefully, in the future, people will be able to recalibrate their lives to have a healthier relationship with social media.

It means stepping away from the online world to enjoy real life experiences like previous generations. It might not be ballroom dancing like the days of old, but it could be attending concerts. Any experience where one goes out in the world and is around other humans will be best. Social media has its purpose, but there needs to be more for humans.

Sean Dengler is a writer, comedian, farmer, and host of the Pandaring Talk podcast who grew up on a farm between Traer and Dysart. You can reach him at sean.h.dengler@gmail.com.