Welcome to Day 19 of our Giving Thanks project. Yesterday we gave thanks for the good friends in our lives. Good friends are pretty rare. They are those folks that are always there for you, no matter what. I would rather have a few GOOD friends than an army of fair-weather friends. If you missed that post, you can find it here: Good Friends.
Today’s inspiration is courtesy of COVID-19. Like so many of you, I am working from home these days. As I’m watching the news, it looks like more schools and universities are moving to online classes. We are being encouraged to have family gatherings on ZOOM for Thanksgiving, all to help stop the spread of COVID-19. So today, and basically every day, I am really grateful for the technology that allows me to stay connected to my family, my friends, my work, and the rest of the world.
It is crazy how much our lives revolve around electricity, internet, Wi-Fi, and cellular service now. Beyond that, what would we do without Amazon, Netflix, and Uber Eats? I am literally doing 90% of my Christmas shopping from my computer or cell phone.
“Technology is a useful servant but a dangerous master.”
Christian Lous Lange
As much as I love technology and all the convenience that it offers, I do miss the good old days, before cell phones, email, and Netflix. There was something very special about getting a letter in the mail, getting a phone call on your rotary house phone, and waiting all year long to watch the Christmas specials on the living room TV with your whole family. I remember how exciting it was to wait for Rudolph or Charlie Brown’s Christmas Special. The scarcity of those holiday shows made them extra special each year. This was long before VCRs, DVDs, and streaming networks. I’m a little sad that it is so easy to access holiday shows whenever you want now.
So while we give thanks for all the modern conveniences that surround us, let us not forget to focus on our families, friends, and all of the little things that make life special. Someday, you’ll look back and wish it was the “good old days” (but maybe not 2020).
Until next time, keep looking for the goodness in your world.
With gratitude,
Denise 🙂