Mega-Stuff

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

A fun pastime is ordering from Amazon–super easy, without needing to enter address and payment data. A click on “send” starts my wants to move. The big fun is arriving home and finding boxes beside the front door. They’re stamped with Amazon’s “smiley face” logo, but otherwise nondescript, their contents are mysteries. I forgot my earlier wishes while clicking “send.” Now, carrying packages inside and imagining their contents grips me with excitement. The receiving, opening, and anticipating repeat pleasing childhood Christmas moments.

Amazon has mastered connecting online commerce to human weaknesses. Oddly, some of our “weaknesses” suggest our strength. Shopping online, while fun, is expensive. The ease of clicking challenges the need to control one’s purchases and expenses; it’s a weakness. On the other hand, recalling sweetness in the past is good.

Sweetness arises in recapturing the joy, wonder, and good times of family bonds. Looking back and re-experiencing may reinforce an appreciation of what we have in the present. On the other hand, looking back can be disappointing by reviving unrealistic expectations.

I recognize the need to control my purchasing and spending, but don’t want to lose the fun of re-experiencing. A way to work this out will be to get my head in the right place. I must focus on recreating feelings without having to repeat exact experiences. It will help greatly to start embracing my own new traditions. Instead of buying and spending, I want to celebrate my mature wisdom, insights, and optimism for the future.

Perhaps the key is to learn to remain present in each moment better. An important goal is to gain the ability to reminisce without becoming caught up in the past. Being fully in the moment would increase awareness of present joys and capture more pleasure in real-time experiences.

Dear Friends: Coping in a highly sophisticated world has pros and cons. Diana