We live in an amazing time of technological innovation, and the pace of change is accelerating exponentially. Each new device begets another new invention, new cottage industries, and so forth. The improvement in quality of life and convenience for most of us in the last quarter century is astounding.
Do we appreciate just how wondrous our lives are?
As a parent, I find myself reminding my children to count their blessings, in the hope that they will fully appreciate all that is made possible by the world’s recent strides in innovation.
I remember the first time my youngest flew on an airplane. She was still young enough to be fascinated by the experience; she kept opening the window shade and shouting about the clouds. Her older brother was less enthused, having traveled since he was an infant – there was less to be amazed at, the whole experience being commonplace.
I recently watched Conan O’Brien’s 2009 interview with comedian Louis C.K. The video clip titled Everything Is Amazing, And Nobody’s Happy had me rolling. In his signature humorous style, Louis expounds upon what he sees as a generation of spoiled individuals with an entitlement complex that blinds them to the unprecedented (on the human timeline) conveniences and magical quality of life available today. The most glaring example being flying (watch the clip – he nails it!). It’s uplifting to see someone like Louis continuing to have wonder at the world’s accomplishments and our collective good fortune, and it’s a great reminder for all of us.
Keeping with the themes of aviation and gratitude, I came across another video, An & Ria’s First Flight. It’s a heartwarming account of two women in their 70s taking their first flight. Although vastly different in the way they approach the adventure, the outcome for both is the same: sheer joy and wonderment. While not quite old enough to recall a world without any commercial passenger flights, they are still from a generation that saw air travel as something inexplicable and largely inaccessible to the general public.
With aviation, it only took about 100 years for the public’s perception to go from “amazed” to “hum drum.” In the broader world of technology, that timeline seems to get shorter with each successive advancement. With all that we have and all that we experience, is it possible to hang on to that feeling of awe? Yes. It is if we take the time to consider the experience (and struggle) of our parents, grandparents, and ancestors. Avoid the temptation to keep looking ahead to the next best thing and find wonder in the moment!
I think you’ll enjoy watching the short account of An & Ria’s First Flight. It is a reminder of the importance of experiencing things as if for the very first time (and also that you are never too old to try something new).