I’m old enough to remember a time before pc’s, cell phones, and the almighty Worldwide Web. A time when, if we wanted information, we had to trudge upstairs to the bookshelf and scroll through the family encyclopedia set (I know my parents spent a fortune on those!). If that didn’t provide enough detail, we rode our bikes to the library and spent the day in the “stacks”. All the while, taking hand-written notes, searching the card catalog (Dewey Decimal System, anyone?) and waiting our turn to use the microfiche machine. Ah, the good ‘ole days. Yep, I’m old.
Now, as I sit here staring at my laptop and scrolling through my smartphone, there’s an app for everything! Just the idea that the word “app” is widely accepted as an actual term is mind-boggling. All of our personal electronics will not only give us instant information, but many times, they will even speak the information to us! Hey, Suri… And if we can’t find an app, YouTube will certainly show us the way! We are so quick to resort to the cloud for the answers to all things; we rarely take the time to really noodle anything deep or meaningful.
Regardless of how “intelligent” our technology becomes, there are things which we simply need to discover, learn, practice and impart on our own. Those things are at the core of our spirit. Those things define us as humans and remind us we are part of something so much bigger than ourselves. The internet has shrunken our world to the point that each of us believes it revolves around us. If we take a moment and completely unplug, we find ourselves back at the basics. Our lives once again full and focused on each other and this world we share.
Happiness – There is no app that makes us happy, or even leads us in the direction of happiness. There are lists of “The top 10 things happy people do every day” or “The top 6 signs pointing to an unhappy relationship” or “Tips and tricks for turning that frown upside down.” There’s data related to where on the planet the happiest people reside, and how your current location compares. But there is no easy button for happiness. Finding happiness and staying content only come from deeply personal self-reflection and soul-searching. It takes time and sometimes a lot of trial and error. And what makes you happy today may not make you happy tomorrow. Almost universally, we can agree that “things” don’t make us happy. It’s our connection to others that ultimately brings about a sense of joy. The only fail-safe way to contentment I’ve found, is when I need a boost, I do something for someone else. When I’m able to make someone else happy, ease a burden, show compassion, that’s where I find happiness. Every. Single. Time.
Courtesy – When did courtesy take a back seat to self-absorption and indifference? Why is it so difficult for folks to follow the Golden Rule and be beacons of light instead of purveyors of disrespect? Unfortunately, there is no app that will paint a friendly smile on your face, change the tone of your voice to endearing and kind, or hold the door open for people behind you. It takes a mighty keen eye and sensitive ear to witness people going out of their way to help others, or simply taking a moment to say, “Please” and “Thank you.” Forget about hearing, “Yes, sir” or “Yes, ma’am.” Being aware of our surroundings at all times and lifting our eyes from the electronic devices constantly trying to monopolize our attention, will reveal opportunities to show courtesy and respect to those around us. And those little displays may also just lead us back to happiness.
Common Sense – Evidently common sense went out the window with courtesy. Believing we have all the answers at our fingertips has led us away from the ability to think on our own. We no longer analyze a situation and act according to what is innately right or wrong because no one can agree on what those terms mean anymore. Everyone has an opinion, which is nothing new, but now, everyone believes their opinion is TRUTH. There can be no common sense, if there is no “common” or “sense”. Bear with me here…if we cannot come together to agree on best practices or a shared way of thinking, common sense will cease to be. Likewise, if we have lost all of our sensibilities due to our dependence on electronic and virtual existences, then there is no longer a place for common sense in society. Only when we come together, person to person, nation to nation, and determine the standards within which the human race should operate in order to prolong our survival, can common sense be the driving force in decision-making.
Work Ethic – There is no app that will physically kick me in the butt and move me one step closer to whatever is next on my list of to-do’s. Sure, I can set the alarm or use the stop-watch function to aid in completing my workload, but there is nothing that will insure my work is done well and to the best of my ability. There is no app that will make me care about the quality of work I produce or give me a sense of accomplishment knowing I got the job done. Work ethic flies in the face of today’s world of instant gratification, entitlement, and the need for recognition and reward. Many of our parents and grandparents toiled long hours every day, working on the production lines or in the fields, doing the dirty work and carrying this country on their backs. There was no recognition of a job well done or service medals handed out on a daily basis to encourage everyone to “keep up the good work.” They simply showed up, did the work, and called it a day. They were their own compass; honestly assessing themselves and acknowledging how their work compared to the established standard. Today’s workforce, and society in general, is rife with people wanting more pay for less work, more recognition for less effort, and more benefits for less production. Work ethic comes from within and through the examples set by those around us. If we don’t value ourselves enough to deliver excellence in all aspects of our lives, and the archetypes we use as benchmarks consistently fall short, no app in the virtual universe will be able to save us from ourselves.
Time – Time is finite. Our lives are short (comparatively). We have a limited number of minutes, hours, days, and years on this planet. The digital and tech companies would like us to believe all our electronic gear has made us faster, more efficient, and able to multi-task. We are getting more done in less time, so we have more “free” time than any generation before. In reality, due to being pulled in some many different directions, and constantly bombarded by a barrage of social media influences, we find ourselves yearning for more time. Time to unwind, unplug, relax, just be. The addictive nature of these gadgets makes us feel guilty when not sharing/updating/posting/tweeting about all the happenings in our lives. When, in fact, we just want and need to LIVE our lives. In the present. Right now. Use the time gifted us to connect with one another and our own spirit; reacquaint ourselves with our true heart’s desires. Time is fleeting and no app will give us back yesterday or promise more tomorrows. It’s up to us to make the most of each moment.
In case you are looking for the app which will unplug you…it’s called the power button. Save your work, your photos, your comments, your updates, and your game progress. Then, power down. See how long you can stand the silence, the darkness, the stillness. Uncomfortable at first, you’ll soon appreciate the absence of inundating notifications and the scarcity of empty acknowledgements. You’ll find yourself no longer searching for an app for that, but rather living life on a whole new level of wakefulness and gratitude.