I am finally on Spring Break, and unlike the rest of my friends I am not going down to the beach. I am going to sit my exhausted self on the couch and watch some Netflix, read a book or two and eat real food that comes from my parent’s kitchen and not the cafeteria. Now that is a break to me!
As I laid here today on the couch, with nowhere to be, I watched Netflix. And when it didn’t load in about 30 seconds I began to get antsy and frustrated. Quickly, I stopped myself and was alarmed at the reaction I had. I have been so influenced and swayed by the “on demand” society that I would let something so trivial annoy me.
This is indicative of an issue in our culture. We demand things quickly, and if they are not fast enough, then we become angry. Never mind that I have access to thousands of movies instantly, never mind that I literally have nothing to do, or anywhere to be. I want my movie and I want it now.
How ridiculous.
Patience, before the age of technology was already a difficult virtue to master. But in this age of instant food, instant movies, instant music and instant information, it is all but dead.
So as I lay on the couch, watching another episode of Alaska State Troopers, I need to remind myself despite the instantaneous nature of the society, I need to be grateful for what I have. And maybe next time I will have the patience to wait 45 seconds for my video to load.