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Day #2 – What technology are you grateful for?

The second day of the 30 Days of Gratitude Prompts sounds like a trick question; you mean I have to narrow it down to only one? 

That’s quite a challenge when you consider what technology I’ve used so far today…

• Alarm clock – to wake me up for a 9am new tires appointment
• Keurig – where I made my morning cup(s) of coffee
• Car – to get me to said appointment
• iPhone – to keep me entertained during appointment (along with an actual book) – I left the Kindle at home
• TV – in the waiting room at tire store, where I listened in on the news
• Microwave – where I made my oatmeal once I got home again
• iPhone – which I used to call my mother after oatmeal
• Mac Air laptop – which I’m using to type this post
• Logitech wireless mouse – because I prefer mice to trackpads

And that’s only today. Everyday I rely on the refrigerator, a/c, furnace, and lighting for basic comforts. Most days I use a laptop, Internet, camera, blow dryer, oven, and other assorted appliances that require electricity. Occasionally, I get on an airplane.

It’s been a long time since I thought about all the forms of technology that we use on a regular basis. Narrowing my choice down to only one is quite impossible…I really do appreciate them all. The alarm clock ensures that I’ll get up on time. The phone keeps me connected to family & friends. The microwave not only allows me to cook my oatmeal, but to cook it a bit faster. And the coffeemaker guarantees that I’ll be awake for all the other activities!

It’s amazing when you consider how far we’ve advanced in the last several decades. I’m 55 and our idea of technology in the 60s was television sets in color (and they were big enough to be considered a piece of furniture.) Mainframe computers were the size of small dinosaurs and exclusive only to businesses. I remember when wireless remote phones and answering machines came out. In high school our typewriters didn’t even have a correction key.

Wow, we really have come a long way baby!

But, for the purpose of this Gratitude Journal, I’ll choose one and that is the laptop computer. Without it, I couldn’t be typing to you, dear Reader! I’ve been blogging since last November and truly enjoy it.

The computer was a real lifesaver throughout my college years, from 2009 to 2013. Some of you may remember when rough drafts had to be handwritten in pencil, because copy & paste hadn’t been invented yet. Research could only be done at the library. Typing final drafts and documents are now a breeze with autocorrect, word count, etc. 

We all know how computers and the Internet (once called the Information Highway) keep us connected to the outside world. We have instant communication with people on the other side of the planet, as well as folks in our own neighborhoods.

Computers have transformed doing business, as well. Processes that once took days now take mere seconds. However, our reliance on them makes us vulnerable to crashes and hackers. Unfortunately, there’s always a downside.

Because the laptop is mobile, it offers a lot of freedom regarding where and when I can utilize it. Right now, I’m sitting on the patio enjoying the breeze and the bird songs. While I love all that technology offers, I still appreciate the natural world. It’s there for us to unplug and decompress.

Come to think of it, maybe I’ll take a little nap, now that I’ve finished this post!   

Carpe diem!

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