"INSTANT GRATIFICATION TAKES TOO LONG." - Carrie Fisher
I sent myself an email today. From one computer to another.
Yes, I have two. One is strictly professional. The other is the 'family' PC - it's been corrupted with Nexopia, YouTube and several mindless games that I LOVE.
I sent myself some stuff to print and to save another copy. Once I hit that teensy little SEND button, I had better hear a 'ding' in my other inbox.
Wait.
Hit Send/Receive.
Hit Send/Receive.
hit Send/Receive.
Argh.
Wait.
Hit Send/Receive.
Nothing.
Go to the washroom.
Hit Send/Receive.
Still nothing.
DAMN IT. Where could it possibly go? I hit send from one computer... and rolled my big easy chair across the floor to the other computer... it should be there.
Hit Send/Receive.
It's been only 1 minute and 43 seconds and I am seriously choked that the message I sent (myself) has not arrived. How can it be lost in cyber space? We are in the same room???
"THERE ARE NO SHORT-CUTS TO ANY PLACE WORTH GOING." - Beverley Sills
Welcome to the world of NOW.
I'm not talking about living in the present. I am talking about always available, instant, immediate, never out of reach from anyone or anything, RIGHT FREAKIN' NOW!!!
Our whole society is conditioned this way.
Most of us own a cell phone. Or a Blackberry. A couple of computers. A number of big electronics. We are moments away from food, drink and fun at any given second of the day. If you can't get to it by driving to the nearest mall or store location, you can certainly Google it, buy it on EBAY or order it from an info-mercial and have it couriered within in a matter of hours.
We are so used to the instant gratification of whatever we want, whenever we want it, that when something doesn't materialize the moment we snap our fingers (or press send) - our blood pressure starts to rise.
Even grocery checkouts are designed to allow you to service yourself. Talk about immediate results. Shorter (most of the time) lineups. No cashier to have to make nicey-nicey with.
In and out.
FAST.
NOW.
We do it with our waistlines. Buy the ad-dom-inizer. The Belly-Flexer. The Lotta-Boob-Maker. Use it just 20 minutes a day, three times and you will look like our model! We're talking about the least possible amount of committment to any kind of fitness program! Then, we're pissed off when we don't lose eleven pounds overnight. Why do you think diet pills are such a HUGE industry? We want to be skinny - and we want it NOW.
Instant gratification.
"INSTANT GRATIFICATION IS NOT SOON ENOUGH." - Meryl Streep
Our dinners are completely ready to eat in 90 seconds. The same roast that used to take Mom a half a day to prepare, we can buy pre-seasoned, tenderized and ready to nuke. NUKE. Good word.
We pop a top if we want a drink.
We are seriously inconvenienced if we have to spend any significant amount of time away from work/television/computers... especially in the kitchen. We live a glorious automated existence. Laundry machines, dishwashers, carstarters, on-line anything.
We expect immediate relationship success without realistic expectations and without effort, then wonder why marriage is harder than it looks. (On the up-side - if it doesn't work out, you can get divorced in no time flat, be on-line and meet the person of your dreams... the world is your oyster. And the pearl is always juuuusst out of reach
In a world designed to meet our every need, the moment we think it, how do we remain patient?
Where do we seek our solace away from everything and everyone?
Where are the quiet moments?
Are we allowed the freedom of pace?
Would we enjoy quiet moments, if noone was calling us on the phone? Would you feel unimportant? Unloved? Would you relish every moment?
If we turned on our computer and noone sent us a message, would we know what to do with our time? Would you go CRAZY from the lack of mental stimulation?
What if we moved our bodies because it felt good as opposed to because we wanted to look like someone else?
"PATIENCE IS THE ABILITY TO IDLE YOUR MOTOR WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE STRIPPING YOUR GEARS." - Barbara Johnson
I'd like to say that I said 'Aahh, Screw it.' about the email and went and found something else to do. But now that I am done blogging....
Send/Receive.
Send/Receive.
&%*(#
What can I say?
I'm a work in progress.
I sent myself an email today. From one computer to another.
Yes, I have two. One is strictly professional. The other is the 'family' PC - it's been corrupted with Nexopia, YouTube and several mindless games that I LOVE.
I sent myself some stuff to print and to save another copy. Once I hit that teensy little SEND button, I had better hear a 'ding' in my other inbox.
Wait.
Hit Send/Receive.
Hit Send/Receive.
hit Send/Receive.
Argh.
Wait.
Hit Send/Receive.
Nothing.
Go to the washroom.
Hit Send/Receive.
Still nothing.
DAMN IT. Where could it possibly go? I hit send from one computer... and rolled my big easy chair across the floor to the other computer... it should be there.
Hit Send/Receive.
It's been only 1 minute and 43 seconds and I am seriously choked that the message I sent (myself) has not arrived. How can it be lost in cyber space? We are in the same room???
"THERE ARE NO SHORT-CUTS TO ANY PLACE WORTH GOING." - Beverley Sills
Welcome to the world of NOW.
I'm not talking about living in the present. I am talking about always available, instant, immediate, never out of reach from anyone or anything, RIGHT FREAKIN' NOW!!!
Our whole society is conditioned this way.
Most of us own a cell phone. Or a Blackberry. A couple of computers. A number of big electronics. We are moments away from food, drink and fun at any given second of the day. If you can't get to it by driving to the nearest mall or store location, you can certainly Google it, buy it on EBAY or order it from an info-mercial and have it couriered within in a matter of hours.
We are so used to the instant gratification of whatever we want, whenever we want it, that when something doesn't materialize the moment we snap our fingers (or press send) - our blood pressure starts to rise.
Even grocery checkouts are designed to allow you to service yourself. Talk about immediate results. Shorter (most of the time) lineups. No cashier to have to make nicey-nicey with.
In and out.
FAST.
NOW.
We do it with our waistlines. Buy the ad-dom-inizer. The Belly-Flexer. The Lotta-Boob-Maker. Use it just 20 minutes a day, three times and you will look like our model! We're talking about the least possible amount of committment to any kind of fitness program! Then, we're pissed off when we don't lose eleven pounds overnight. Why do you think diet pills are such a HUGE industry? We want to be skinny - and we want it NOW.
Instant gratification.
"INSTANT GRATIFICATION IS NOT SOON ENOUGH." - Meryl Streep
Our dinners are completely ready to eat in 90 seconds. The same roast that used to take Mom a half a day to prepare, we can buy pre-seasoned, tenderized and ready to nuke. NUKE. Good word.
We pop a top if we want a drink.
We are seriously inconvenienced if we have to spend any significant amount of time away from work/television/computers... especially in the kitchen. We live a glorious automated existence. Laundry machines, dishwashers, carstarters, on-line anything.
We expect immediate relationship success without realistic expectations and without effort, then wonder why marriage is harder than it looks. (On the up-side - if it doesn't work out, you can get divorced in no time flat, be on-line and meet the person of your dreams... the world is your oyster. And the pearl is always juuuusst out of reach
In a world designed to meet our every need, the moment we think it, how do we remain patient?
Where do we seek our solace away from everything and everyone?
Where are the quiet moments?
Are we allowed the freedom of pace?
Would we enjoy quiet moments, if noone was calling us on the phone? Would you feel unimportant? Unloved? Would you relish every moment?
If we turned on our computer and noone sent us a message, would we know what to do with our time? Would you go CRAZY from the lack of mental stimulation?
What if we moved our bodies because it felt good as opposed to because we wanted to look like someone else?
"PATIENCE IS THE ABILITY TO IDLE YOUR MOTOR WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE STRIPPING YOUR GEARS." - Barbara Johnson
I'd like to say that I said 'Aahh, Screw it.' about the email and went and found something else to do. But now that I am done blogging....
Send/Receive.
Send/Receive.
&%*(#
What can I say?
I'm a work in progress.