Taylor Winchell is just as apt to buy a latest gadget or bauble as anyone, but lately he’s paused to first ask himself one, simple question.
The other day I clicked on an ad for wireless over-ear headphones. They were made by a respected brand and on sale for only $50 — practically a steal. I hovered my mouse toward the ‘buy now’ button. But just before clicking, I stopped.
I already have over-ear headphones, also made by a respected brand. They are six years old, but the sound quality is still great. And yes, they do keep me tethered to a machine with their long, tangle-y wire; but, in reality I only use over-ear headphones while sitting at my desk at work—hardly a time when I need wireless agility.
As it turns out, I have lived my entire life — 26 years’ worth of heartbeats — without wireless over-ear headphones.
It’s something I’ve been trying to remember lately: that every new thing I acquire, or am about to purchase or watch or browse is something I have already made it through every single one of my days without.