I have five phones, an iPad, and a laptop. I genuinely use them all and being surrounded by them makes me feel my best. I know I am letting go of consumerism, but this is different. These devices have been gathered over many years, not bought impulsively. I just never trade in or sell some of my old phones and now they still serve a purpose in my daily life.
Except for my laptop and one phone, I take the rest with me when I go out. I don’t use them all at one setting, to avoid unwanted attention. Even at the workplace I frequent, the staff are surprised to see me with just two phones. The truth is, I always carry the same devices as I do when I’m out, but at work, I only ever use the same two.
I would say that I’m fortunate enough, but not rich, to be able to upgrade my phone every few years and hold on to the older ones. I’m willing to splurge on electronics, but save in other areas. I rarely dine at restaurants, and now, I’m even cutting back on overseas trips. Those feel good in the moment, but that joy fades quickly. What brings me more lasting contentment is being surrounded by the tech I love, things I actually use and enjoy every day.
Maybe it’s my shyness and introversion. I tend to get nervous, sometimes even panicky, when I have to interact with people. My mind goes blank, and I struggle to find the right words. It takes me a long time to feel truly comfortable, even with just one person. I suppose it’s the quiet interaction and connection without pressure I get from electronic devices. With them, I don’t feel the same anxiety or discomfort. It’s not about avoiding people entirely, but about finding calm in a world that often overwhelms me.
I’m also a homebody, probably because of my shyness and introversion. My electronic devices keep me occupied and are also kind of a quiet companionship.
I think, eventually, I would love to create a little shrine or display for my collection of electronic devices. It’s something I’ve been slowly dreaming about, but I’m still debating whether to include peripherals such as keyboards and headphones. Would that cross the line into unnecessary spending and just add to the clutter? I don’t want this to turn into another expression of consumerism, when I’ve been trying to step away from that mindset.
I know another question that naturally comes up would be, why do I even need five phones, when I also have an iPad and a laptop. Sometimes, I ask myself that too. Over time, I’ve assigned each device a specific purpose, but there’s still some overlap I’m trying to sort out.
I’ll take my time and slowly refine how I use each device, because as always, life is an ongoing journey of figuring things out. For now, I believe what matters most is awareness, being mindful of when and what I’m using, so that I don’t overwhelm myself or stray away from my values of living a simpler life.