Caveat to today’s post: This post will make reference to the iOS 7 update that was made available to all iPhone users a little over a month ago. It is simply the newest version of software available for the iPhone, iPad and iPod devices. This is not a required update, simply a new option. The crux of this article in no way will be about the pros and cons of this new update, but rather a parallelism to our own lives and the updates that we sometimes badly need.
An interesting thought crept into my head after I updated my iPhone a month ago. I realized that the tedious task of updating my cellular device was allegorical. Does my life not need the occasional update? Do I not have to rid my life of certain things to make space for those of greater import? The answer is an obvious yes. We all know that it is important to improve, innovate and progress, alas we are so comfortable with the old version.
I have overheard people in conversation, expostulating about the new update. They would state that the old one was absolutely copacetic, and simply not worth the headache to download the newer version. Some have posited that the only benefit of the update is a more chic look. Others opine that it may be better, but why learn a new system. Does this not reek of the same apathetic attitude we often have towards life? We complain that we want to be more fit, but it is not worth giving up that delicious soda habit. We want things in life, palpable things. But no matter the status quo, we are generally used to what we have. We are comfortable. Why go through the hassle of a personal update? It will not really make that much of a difference.
This is where the fallacy lies. We think that the occasional upgrade is so small and inconsequential that it is not worth our time. But we forget that the iPhone has several updates per year. Some are very small, only removing minor bugs are adding Cambodian to the keyboard, but some are big and enhance your camera at high levels and introduce newer and better ways to communicate. No matter the size we seem to fight change. We want change, but we fight it like obstinate children. We want better lives, but we are woefully lazy.
Let us come to a realization. Our lives, like iPhones, and computers need constant updates. You cannot just expect to have a huge update when it is convenient. You must clean out the bugs where you can, and ameliorate your system piece by piece. We all know that Rome was not built in one day. I mean they did not even have nail guns back then, think about it.
But where do we start when we have so many bugs, so many things to build upon, to accentuate? We start with what we are struggling with the most. A cocaine addict should not first work on his finger nail biting habit. Work on the big things, and work to have a micro-update every day. If there are residual bugs from yesterday, give yourself a soft reset. Go take a shower, get a milkshake, take a deep breath and start again.Don't be ashamed of being a little chopfallen. Screwing up is ok. Being in shambles is nothing to be ashamed of. Depression is not a disease that has been thrust upon those worthless and castigated souls. It is a part of life. Even the prophet Daniel said that he had been in sorrow for 3 weeks. Do not get so overwhelmed that you give up. Look to update yourself, and if you cannot find space to do so, take a step back and reset. There is nothing wrong with starting over. Starting over is not going backwards, it is simply an alternate route. And sometimes we need that route to learn some of life’s most precious and tragic lessons.
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