Roots to Stand, Wings to Fly

Time is of the essence. Today, we often equate it to this proprietary note called money. It's no rocket science that we would be willing to spend bills to "buy" time.

Take Uber as an example; they don't just sell food delivery services, they sell time. People get to save themselves the hassle of having to do things like washing the dishes and cutleries, going to the grocery store, and commute all at the expense of a couple of bucks. The same goes for Amazon's one-day delivery, or Domino Pizza's 30-minute delivery promise are just a few of many. Well, it seems like a fair trade-off, in all honesty.

So how can this be bad? Dependency. It is a good thing that we have evolved ourselves to make us more efficient in doing daily tasks. Still, along the way, we have lost some sense of dedicated effort. There's a saying that goes: "Let the old ways die to make way for the new." I beg to differ. Why not have the best of both worlds?

I think we shouldn't completely let go of the old ways, may it be cultures, traditions, perspectives, or lifestyle. Why? Okay, imagine you are an owner of a small boutique store, you now fully convert to online payments, and one day, out of the blue, the server crashes. Stranding you with customers unable to pay for their purchases, but thankfully, you kept the old cash register as a backup. See where I'm going with this?

I think the old ways serve as a safeguard, a guiding torch, or a safety net (if you will). I am not saying that new methods are wrong; contrarily, they are essential to keep pace with the times. All I'm saying is, we should learn to re-appreciate how the old ways served as the skeleton to the different muscle fibers of innovations and inventions we have today.

A great example of this point is Alan Turing, the inventor of the Turing Machine. Turing played an immense influence in developing theoretical computer science after breaking the Enigma code (encrypted messages used by the Germans to communicate their attacking tactics). He essentially shortened the world war and saved millions of lives during that time.

Turing's logic, his ideology, and his fundamental blueprint were necessary to allow evolution to take place. His ideological execution led to the birth of Apple, Google, Microsoft, and all these giant tech industries birthed in Silicon Valley.

Our parents programmed us in the best way they know-how, then there will come a time when we would have to reprogram them in return. My parents own a conventional retail store selling bag components, such as straps, zippers, zipper heads, fabrics, foam, and even the nets used to hold your water bottles typically.

As we advance technologically, I was able to adapt well to the changes, but my parents? Not as much (no offense, mom and dad). At times, my parents would ask me to help them out on how to attach files to emails or log in to the Wi-Fi (which can be annoying sometimes when I had other errands to work on).

Still, I remembered how patient and caring they were as they raised the clueless and helpless toddler I was. So, I should imply the same values they used to teach me. After all, if it weren't for them, I wouldn't be capable of looking after myself when I get sick or feed myself when I'm hungry, or write this piece that I present before you.

As children, our parents' job is to help raise, educate, and nurture until we mature and become independent; as we develop, so do our parents. It's time we return the favor and oblige ourselves to take care of them and re-educate them on the latest ongoings that keep us updated with the times.

"Keep your eyes on the skies and your feet on the ground."

Stay rooted and never forsake teachings and principles instilled in you from the past. Believe it or not, they got you to where you are today. It does not matter whether you are in a good or bad situation; what matters is how you choose to respond to it. Ask yourself: How bad do you want it? How far are you willing to go? How much are you ready to lose to grasp your dreams?

You may not see it now, but everything that happened to you in the past is the wisdom, the fuel, and the rock foundation that got to where you are now and where you will be in the years ahead.