Culture of immediacy
I remember as a child, actually having to wait one full week to watch the next episode of my favourite TV show, or having to get all my pictures developed before I could show them to my friends. Today, I can binge-watch a full season of a show in one sitting, I can take a load of photos on my phone and post them immediately online for my friends to see. I can even shop from the comfort of my own couch and get next-day delivery. All in one click.
Even when we are forced to slow down, we are finding ways of immediacy. We’re looking to the future, wishing the present away, wondering what we can plan next. Which website will deliver the fastest? Where I can watch the latest movie first? We are getting used to this fast pace and disregard for the present moment. The more we practice this, the less possibility for living comfortably in the present ever again.
What We Lose
The biggest consequence of this inescapable lifestyle is that we increasingly value experiences and objects less. A simple click can provide us with instant gratification, in the form of a package. And then we want more. But nothing seems to be good enough, so we enter this continuous circle of overconsumption in the hopes that the next thing will be the one that meets our expectations. But it never does. We always think there is something better in store for us. My room definitely serves as proof! There are drawers full of useless objects I saw on Instagram adverts, shelves full of unread books I need to spend time reading, and closets filled with clothes that do not spark joy anymore.
“The Journey is More Important than the Destination”
The feeling of disappointment and impatience that comes with this culture of immediacy permeates every aspect of our lives: from the way we buy clothes and consume culture, to what we expect from ourselves and our careers, and how we interact with others. What mainly causes this is the disconnection from the journey or process before we receive the moment of gratification. Things take time, but we are so used to getting what we want the moment we want it that we have forgotten about that. Sometimes our impatience can be of great disservice to us when we can talk about our finished destinations but have little to no knowledge of their origins or fates. No questions asked.
So, how can we reconnect to the journey and find balance in this culture where immediacy has control. Getting involved in activities that require us to be an active part of the process may be the answer.
During this pandemic, we’ve seen the trends of baking banana bread, making home-made masks, the rise of TikTok creations, and other similar activities that had been neglected by most of us for years. The difference? We are not just buying the banana bread already made, or just watching funny videos, we are actively taking part in the process. These activities show their ability to remind us that there is a process to everything. In a fast-paced world, these activities allow us to enjoy the journey and watch the product of our work slowly unfold. The last year has shown us that when we are forced to slow down, we really can “put up with” the process and actually enjoy it.
After all, in the age of technology, making some banana bread may be just what we need!