How Times Have Changed! Is It Painful To Forget These … ?

My pockets say it all.

I was out meeting a friend at a café this evening. As I got my coffee and hobbled over to an empty table, I started taking my belongings out and placing them where my eyes could see.

I like to sit with empty pockets as it feels more comfortable.

As I extract personal belongings from my pockets one by one, I realised that each of them has accompanied me for many years and each of them have a story to tell.

They triggered my memory lane.

# 1 — My Digital Watch.

This isn’t the first watch I had but I remember that I bought my first Casio watch when I was very young because I had to be mindful of the time to get home otherwise, I would be banned from getting in.

Those were the days where we are still afraid of not getting home on time.

For some funny reason, the reverse happened during teenage years.

I became afraid that I couldn’t stay out with my friends at their place or somewhere with a tent.

# 2 — My Wallet.

My first wallet used to contain cash and debit cards only. The first credit card appeared only when I started working and I remember feeling very proud of having them as a status symbol or a feel good symbol.

Of course, I have made some silly purchases during the first month of having one but that’s story for another day.

Oh I had my driver’s license too. I got it only after my second test. Looking at it now reminds me how spectacularly I failed my first driving test and almost drove straight into the opposing lane.

Haha. What Good Old Days are those.

Young and silly.

And happy.

# 3 — My Mask.

This is a 2020 addition. I cannot fathom whether the mask is more valuable or my digital watch. I think it must have been the mask. I recall having lunch at a food court one afternoon and having my belongings on my right. When I was done and wanted to retrieve my belongings to make a move, I realised that the digital watch is still there. My wallet is still there.

The mask is gone.

Amazing.

This would have never happened in 2019.

What difference a year can make.

# 4 — My Smartphone (not in the image I provided, I used it to take the photo).

My first smart device is a pager. It would routinely buzz with a message and I would run to find a payphone to contact that precious someone who wants to talk to me. Sometimes they are friends, sometimes it’s my mum.

Then it went to a phone. My first phone saved my life when I was absolutely getting killed by boredom in history lectures. I think it was Nokia 8820. I was so happy playing “Snake” then.

Today, “Snake” wouldn’t have stood a chance against “Fishdom” or even “Bejeweled”.

Nokia 8820 wouldn’t be able to compete against the iPhone or other smart devices too.

My Reflection On-The-Fly.

I reminisced at the way Times have changed.

In fact, I miss those days.

It was much simpler.

I am glad that amongst all changes taking place, a cup of warm coffee is still around to warm me up whenever I need it.

That didn’t change.

Oh, wait a second.

It did.

I think it has gotten expensive over the years.

How Times have changed!

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About the Author:

As a Consultant by training, I believe in making the complex simple.

Because simplicity adds value.

Simplicity helps us gain clarity, and clarity helps us to grow.

And if we are not growing, then what’s the point of anything else?

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