Why I Bought an iPod in 2022

music personal story Jan 06, 2022

I think about how we may have gone past the sweet spot in certain technological advances. I know, I know...

"But Scott, what would I do without my fleshlight!?"

"But Scott, I can count my steps now and if I dont' reach 10,000 in a day I get to hate myself"

"But Scott, the PS5 is amazing, even though it'll be on backorder until 2025"

Okay so the advances in tech have actually done so much good for us and the world: faster computers, medical advances, more efficient combustion engines, electric cars (although terrible for the environment too), the Slap Chop and Shamwow. These are all awesome but when it comes to personal in your pocket technology, I think I'm done.

What people see as inconveniences and how things take too much time, I see it as simple living and harnessing the ability to slow down in such a fast paced society. 

I'll be honest, there's quite the visceral reaction I have in my body when I've looked at a screen for too long during the day. This never used to happen but clearly our bodies know something is wrong before we do and damnit I have stories to share about that one.

So this is obviously tough because my work is online and more of the world spends their entire day in the metaverse so I feel I don't have much of a choice at this point in my life. If I could only post 10 videos a day on Tik Tok, I bet I could gain quite the following. But that would make me so unbelievably miserable.  

So why did I buy an iPod?

I romanticize about the past at times and I can't be alone in that. Not only a sense of childhood innocence but also about how I wasn't connected at all times. That's what made moments so memorable and truly felt. I walked to work with my iPod and 500 songs was more than enough selection. When I was with people, we were with each other and nobody else. There wasn't an online world to check-in on or a better option to pull us from the moment. 

With old mp3s and iPods (we'll talk about CDs, tapes and records in another post), there was intention involved in selecting the music you wanted to take with you into the world. There was something awesome about organizing music and searching for the album covers online so when it shows up on your iPod, that was sweet sense of gratification. 

I totally get how doing all of that seems like an inconvenience and for a lot of us, it is. I even use wired headphones and got rid of my airpods, yaaaaaa! I know, we all got so pissed with those wires, oh faaaack. When that shit got caught on a kitchen drawer knob or door handle, holy shit. You remember? And then you get mad at the actual door. 

I'm just not sure what we're all rushing towards? We have all of these time saving devices but more than ever were rushed for time and our phones still aren't fast enough. What are we actually running to or running away from?

It hit me so hard when I realized that myself. I would go through the day in such a hurry. Everything from showering, cooking, eating, working and then I would finally make it to the point I was rushing towards...

On the couch watching Netflix. Yeah man, that was it. That was the end goal of the day. To finally sit down and watch some shitty movie from 2003. 

Speaking of 2003 though omfgggg. Check out (on Spotify, shit lmfao) the 2003 Billboard Hits. Unbelievable the bangers of that year. Unbelievable!! Even has some R. Kelly on there for some nostalgia lmfaooo uhhh.....hows he doing these days? 

If you're reading this, you already know how fast time moves don't you? A year goes by in an instant and 32 years for me, although it feels like 1000, was still quick. 

I know you remember the times before your cell phone. Was it better in some ways and worse than others? What's your relationship to the internet and being connected at all times? Do you take time for yourself and just listen? Are you anxious being alone with your own thoughts? Can you ever leave your phone at home?

Just some questions to ask yourself to see if your phone is making you happy and has made a positive difference in your life. 

I use my phone as little as I can, mostly for phone calls and voice recordings. Now when I go to the gym or out for a walk, I get to take my little iPod Nano with me where no one can reach me. The moment is mine :)

Thanks for reading. 

Scott 

THE BEING HUMAN NEWSLETTER

Join our online support group and meditation sessions

It's a newsletter you'll actually read! Receive anxiety tools, the latest podcast episodes and invitations to join our live sessions on Zoom