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Once you have the basics of a given technological leap in place, it’s always important to step back and focus on the people for a while.
Jaron Lanier, You Are Not a Gadget
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7

Give thanks for gadgets.

Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.
Cicero

Throughout history, gratitude has been a prized quality in personal and social life. Cicero suggested that gratitude is a precondition for all other virtues, and modern psychologists have confirmed that gratitude positively affects our moral attitudes, increases happiness, and improves well-being.1

Giving thanks is a codified practice in many religions, but modern secular life rarely asks us to express gratitude. And with such an abundance of stimulating information and novel gadgets, it is easy to take it all for granted.

Before using technology each day, reflect on all the people who imagined, designed, and built your gadgets. Even the most basic gadget is a miracle of staggering complexity, a testament to human ingenuity and creativity, and something to be grateful for.

  1. McCullough M. E., Kilpatrick S. D., Emmons R. A., & Larson D. B. (2001). Is Gratitude a Moral Affect? Psychological Bulletin, 127, 249-266
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people have committed to this Gadget Rule

I will give thanks before using technology each day for the next seven days.

Let me know when new Gadget Rules are published.

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