During my morning stop to Starbucks I was getting cranky because the man in front of me ordered 6 caramel macchiatos and the barista decided to be artistic with the caramel swirls, so it was taking a long time to get my little latte. But then I started looking around and reading over other customers’ shoulders to pass the time. And I spotted 2 men, well into their 80’s, with walkers parked next to each of them hunched over their table talking. So I (naturally) took a closer look and saw that between them there was an iPhone and one man was teaching the other how to use it. For some reason, that scene made my day!! The “teacher” was very well-versed and very patient as he scrolled through what I think was the phone’s “recent calls” screen to show his friend how all the people that have called him, or that he has called, shows up on the screen. “So pretty soon, you won’t need to type ANY phone numbers in, they will just appear in order for you, “ the man presented. And the “student” intently listened and tested his hand at the phone and got comfortable tapping the screen and sliding his finger on it to change the data in front of him. There wasn’t any visible frustration or angst. It just looked like they were both approaching this new phone with the attitude of “here it is, this is how it works, and I’ve just gotta figure it out”.
For me this week has been technologically challenged. I have had software issues, computer issues, email issues, and flat iron issues. I only wish I could have approached my electronic gadgets and frizzy hair with as much patience, and well, dignity, as those two gentlemen approached theirs! After all, everything has been resolved and no amount of foot stomping or not-so-charming word choices expedited the outcome. It was the patience to methodically take a look at all that stuff and say “I’ve just gotta figure it out.”