Fast food, Netflix and the internet; these are just a few of the many things that we as a human race have come to cherish over the past century. The answer as to why these things have become so popular is not hard to figure out, it’s because these things give us what we want quickly and inexpensively. I would live my live like this, after work picking up food from Culver’s, driving home and then watching Netflix as I stuffed my face with greasy deliciousness.

Then the accident happened,the accident that would leave me without a car the entire first half of 2015. At first it was frustrating, getting back and forth between school, a job and my home. But once summer started I became grateful towards what once felt like a tragedy. Because of my struggle I had realized something; that although society has made many innovations towards taking away stresses in life, it also took away some very important parts of life that we as humans should embrace.

When I had to ride my bike everywhere I went I was able to slow down and take in everything around me, everything about my day became astronomically more peaceful. My days also felt much more productive. Instead of just waking up 10 minutes before I had to leave and rushing out the door, I took my time. I had an entire backpack ready and a full hour for whatever awaited me that day on my trek to work.

Although those memories are fading and I have already adapted back to the way my life was before, it is still something I will hold with me for years to come. I may not always have the technology and resources at my fingertips and I believe that our generation should learn how to embrace the shifts that can come with losing the ability to always get what we want. Although it sometimes might not seem like it, it might be just the thing we need in our lives at that moment.