by Lisa Moeller

Created on: August 29, 2009

A Potential Waste

I own several electronic devices. A laptop, printer, cell phone, television, dvd player, mp3 player, digital camera and more. It occurs to me on a regular basis that, if I had the time and it was a priority for me, I'd actually learn how to get the full potential out of each of these devices.

Take my digital camera for example. A couple of weeks ago, I went camping in Long Key, Florida and at night, I could actually see stars. Lots of them. Not the smattering little winks I see when I step out my back door and squint my eyes, but full-fledged constellations. I saw Orion, ALL of the Big and Little Dippers, the Archer, and the Milky Way and all the others for which I don't have the astronomical knowledge to name. They were bright, sharp, and clear. Now, I know there's got to be a setting on my fancy-schmancy digital camera that would enable me to capture such a magical night sky, but all I know to do is put it on the fireworks setting, zoom all the way in, and end up with a pitch black frame.

Or how about my cell phone? I've had this phone for nearly two years (ahhh, the end of a contract approaches) and I only just realized that I can go surfing with it. On the web I mean. I just downloaded my first ringtone. Two years!

So here we are in this extremely advanced (compared to the past, not the future) technological society, with layers of potential literally at our fingertips like a freshly baked croissant, yet most of it goes unused or underutilized. And before we take the time to fully learn the "old" technology, we're sold on yet a newer one with even MORE potential to waste.

Go ahead and make the connection to yourself. That's what I always do.

I bet you have layer upon layer of potential you haven't even begun to tap into yet. I do. I feel it bubbling up inside of me like a hot pot of chocolate pudding, but I never take the lid off and pour it out. I think I'm afraid I'll burn myself.

The sad difference is that your potential and mine-they're unique, unmatched, unduplicated. The technological potential of the most cutting edge cell phone is duplicated over and over and over-in general, my cell phone can do the same things your cell phone can do (if I learn how).

But my potential is mine alone. No one else can tap into it but me. No one can tap into yours like you. What stops us from fully utilizing all the creativity and ability that we have inside? Of all the handy-dandy devices in this big wide world, why haven't we learned how to get the most out of ourselves, the handy-dandiest device of all? Why do we allow ourselves to be distracted by the mundane and mediocre redundancy of everyday, when we could, potentially, leave a mark impossible to duplicate on the world?

I don't know about you, but I'm off to pour out some hot chocolate pudding and take photos of the stars. The laundry will still be there tomorrow.

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