Friday 40 for 40s - #8: Technology

Item #30 that I'm learning is:

The moment I purchase new technology, it’s already been superseded

It was interesting to watch the reaction to Apple's big media event yesterday.  Much of what I've read has had a sort of "meh" tone to it - some interesting upgrades, but nothing spectacular - especially when they tagged the event is "It's been way too long".  The implication was that something significant (Apple TV...?) was going to be introduced, but instead it really didn't seem like there was a lot of new innovation.

What I've found really fascinating is that lots of people have since asked "Why would I need to upgrade my iPad?" (the main focus of the event).  Normally with Apple products, even if people don't need to upgrade, you really want to (see iPhone, 6 as the most recent example).  The general consensus is that the existing products already do everything most people need them to, so why would they spend the money to upgrade?

At different times in my life, I've been drawn to the excitement of the latest and greatest, but I have a clear recollection of the time I first realized that the company whose product I was purchasing (a computer) was already probably at least 2 or 3 models ahead in development.  Sure enough, within 6 months my new purchase was at least superseded, if not obsolete.

I have since tried to be wiser about making decisions about purchasing new technology, asking the question "will this new purchase really give me the ability to do something significantly different to what I already have?"  A very current example is that we purchased a new laptop for home use when we first moved to Canada 5 years ago and there's a huge temptation to upgrade - partly because it can be pretty slow, partly because it's pretty heavy, partly because after 5 years, the trackpad and buttons are starting to show some wear and tear.  However, as Ali and I have discussed the idea of upgrading, the major question has been... do we really need to?  (Decision is still pending, by the way!)

I'm also more and more conscious (as I've written about previously and will be writing about again) that newer technology can be extremely detrimental to the priorities I want to set in my life.  Having something that makes it easier for me to access email/social media/the internet/apps mostly works against the disciplines I'm trying to work on.  I have to say that I'm not really at all convinced that I'm interested in having a watch that tells me when I've got a new email/message/notification - I find it hard enough to switch off as it is!

In the end, maybe this is all just part of turning 40 - I'm becoming one of those crotchety old men who says (insert old man voice here) "I don't know what you see in this new fangled technology.  When I was a boy..."  Either way, as technology accelerates at a faster and faster rate, I'm sure taking a step back before making purchases is going to become increasingly important.

Friday 40 for 40s - #7: Gratitude

Item #8 that I'm learning is:

Gratitude is the only cure for consumerism

(See here for the full list)

It seems appropriate heading into Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada to focus on gratitude... I know I have an incredible amount to be thankful for!  

That being said, I'm growing more and more convinced about the importance of gratitude during the rest of the year as well.  Taking time to pause and recognize that there is always something to be thankful for causes a major shift in perspective and attitude - it shifts the focus from what I don't have and what's not going well to understanding things are never as bad as they seem and there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.

In the midst of that, my 40 for 40 reflection was in reference to the draw of consumerism - something I'm sure I'm not even close to conscious of most of the time.  In our teaching at The Meeting House a few weeks ago, we talked about consumerism being the mindset of "give as little as you can to get as much as you can" and I think that's a great definition.  As someone who's always loved a bargain, that's totally true - I love to spend as little as possible to get something great.  I know that it goes beyond shopping though - it eats into my expectations of how much I have to do, how much I have to put in, even affecting my attitude in approaching community.  Whether it's not wanting to pay for TV (or pay as little as possible), how much work I have to do to maintain our house or whether I'm willing to put aside time to invest in relationships, all of it comes back to my consumerist default - put in as little as possible and hope for the greatest return.

What I realized when I put the list together is that the only thing that will help me overcome the double-punch of consumerism that is this mentality coupled with the desire to always want more is to focus on gratitude.  If I pause and recognize that I have so much to be thankful for, things change very quickly.  Whether it's acknowledging the little things (another day to live, a roof over my head, food to eat, clean water, a job, sunshine) or things that show how very privileged I am (a wonderful family, an amazing community, living in one of the best cities in the world, no fear of persecution, the ability to choose how I spend my time and money), taking a few minutes each day to allow that to sink in directly affects the rest of my mindset.  I realize how much I have and therefore I don't need anything else and realistically I hardly want anything else.  I realize how privileged I am and therefore am motivated to steward and invest that in the things I'm doing.  

Practicing gratitude helps me see the things that really matter and motivates me to not just give as little as I can to those areas, but to realign my time and resources so as much of it can be directed in those areas as possible.