So, What Do WE Do Now?

Leaving my son’s high school the other night after an event, I walked by a robotic lawnmower quietly doing its work cutting the lawn in the darkness. It led me to think ‘So, what do we do now?’

Google Maps tells us where to turn next.

Apple Music serves up the next song based on our musical taste.

Amazon ships products based on a subscription model.

Groceries can be delivered or scheduled for pickup at a certain time.

Alexa gives us answers to our most pressing questions like ‘How deep is Lake Michigan?’

Instagram makes us dream of Van Life if even just for 5 minutes.

Turbo Tax will complete our tax return for us.

So, what do WE do now?

We find a place to listen to the sounds of nature without posting about it.

We write our thoughts on paper with a pen.

We realize that even with Alexa everywhere, it does not make us any smarter. Only by learning or experiencing new things can we increase our knowledge.

We ask people we have not seen in some time if they would like to meet for a coffee in the absence of Apple Watches and iPhones. Then we truly listen to each other.

We ask a fish monger if they have any suggestions on cooking a type of fish that we have never tried.

We get lost in our own thoughts.

We shop in person at an independent local business and ask the retail employee/owner how they are doing today.

Realize that AI, Alexa, curated playlists, grocery delivery and robotic lawnmowers can make our lives easier but they don’t necessarily make us a better person.

Only we can make us a better person.

Note: I first published this story on LinkedIn.