I remember reading an article about 10 years ago about these kitchen robots that were close to market. They could slice + dice vegetables + do the dishes. I remember sharing it on my Facebook page + declaring my excitement. (If you had any idea how many vegetables we chop each week at our house, you’d understand why.)
I’m still waiting for my kitchen robot. What is taking so long? I keep asking “Robby” our robo-vacuum if he has any inside scoop on that. But, he doesn’t say much. In fact, I hardly see him because he only comes out on weeknights when we are at the gym.
At this time of year, when we return from the gym, the sun has set, it’s pitch dark. We open our door, the lights have automatically come on at the perfect setting, our evening playlist is playing softly in the background, it’s freshly vacuumed. Welcome home!
What’s NOT to love about robots + automation?
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CALLING ALL ROBOTS
My schedule was a little off this week because when I sat down to write The LIFT at my regularly scheduled time, it just wasn’t there.
This happens sometimes.
My writing doesn’t actually happen when I sit down to write. It happens during the week when I’m doing other things.
Normally by the time I sit down at my designated writing time, it’s all there just waiting to find its way to the page.
But sometimes it’s not. So I have to shuffle my schedule around + find another time to write.
Today was that day. It had to get done.
I hate to sit down to write when I don’t already know what I’m going to say. But - I have a commitment to my schedule + to you, so sometimes I have to face the blank page with no direction.
Then - there it is.
As my husband TK went out the door this morning to run some of our weekend errands while I sat down to write, he joked - “Well, you can always just have AI (artificial intelligence) write it for you.”
Which is funny, but also true, I actually could. Have you played with ChatGPT at all? It’s a bit mind-blowing. If you’re not familiar with the technology, I’ll include an article in the resources below.
Here’s just a very simple example of what AI can do these days.
I simply entered “Write a 500-word article about whether we become obsolete as we age.” Right before my eyes, it started writing + within about 60 seconds, I had a nice little article:
Aging is a natural process that affects everyone, but it is often viewed as a negative thing. Society often associates aging with being "obsolete" or "past one's prime", but this couldn't be further from the truth. In reality, aging can bring a wealth of experience, wisdom, and perspective that is invaluable.
One of the most obvious benefits of aging is the accumulation of experience. As we age, we have more opportunities to learn and grow, and we gain a deeper understanding of the world around us. This can make us more effective in our careers and personal lives, as well as more capable of making informed decisions.
Another benefit of aging is the development of wisdom. As we age, we gain a better understanding of what is truly important in life, and we become more adept at navigating the ups and downs of life. We learn how to handle stress, build and maintain relationships, and cope with difficult situations. This wisdom is something that can only be gained through time and experience, and it is something that is invaluable in both personal and professional contexts.
Aging also brings perspective. As we age, we have the opportunity to reflect on our lives and learn from our mistakes. We become more aware of the things that truly matter, and we become more appreciative of the beauty in the world around us. This perspective allows us to enjoy the simple things in life, and it helps us to find meaning and purpose in our lives.
Despite these benefits, aging is often viewed as a negative thing, and older adults are often stigmatized. They are often seen as less capable and less valuable than their younger counterparts. This is not only untrue, but it is also harmful. It is important to remember that aging does not make anyone obsolete. On the contrary, it brings a wealth of experience, wisdom, and perspective that is invaluable.
Furthermore, aging is not just a physical process, it is also an ongoing process of personal growth and development. As we age, we have the opportunity to continue to learn and grow, to pursue new interests and passions, and to make meaningful contributions to the world around us. We can continue to make an impact in our families, communities, and workplaces, and we can continue to live meaningful and fulfilling lives.
In conclusion, aging is not something to be feared or stigmatized, but rather embraced and celebrated. It is a natural process that brings valuable experience, wisdom, and perspective. It is important for society to recognize and value the contributions of older adults, and to see aging as a stage of life to be celebrated, not feared. Age should not be seen as an obstacle, but rather as a valuable asset, one that can bring a wealth of experience and wisdom to the table.
Pretty impressive, right?
You can see how handy this could be for some people + in certain applications. It would have been AMAZING for those high school + college essays back in the day.
There’s a lot of debate going on around this technology + it’s a bit clunky right now, but there is no denying that AI will become one of the next disruptive applications.
Most of us remember the early days of the Internet. It was cumbersome + clunky. In many ways, it still is. But each year (heck, each day), it continues to get more + more seamless in our lives. AI will be the same.
Thirty years ago, I started an internet-based business. A translation service. We played the middle-man between big corporations + individual translators. We assembled teams of translators around the world to take on projects like translating marketing materials, employee handbooks + instruction manuals as companies expanded into new countries.
When I look back now, I can’t believe the processes we used + how cumbersome it was moving files back + forth between the translators, the editors + the companies. We were so ahead of our time. Even so, within just a few short years, it was obvious that the new emerging technology of machine translation was going to completely disrupt our business model.
As a translator, writer, publisher + solopreneur - I have been one step ahead of ‘the robots’ my whole life, but I can always feel them breathing on my shoulder. Each of these fields has been deeply impacted by technology over the course of my lifespan.
Even so, I always find a way to write. To learn. To share ideas. To express my thoughts.
And with time, I’m also realizing the extended value of being able to bring context, experience + perspective into the conversation.
Maybe the robots will be able to do that in the future, but for now, it’s up to us who are here. Ready to serve. Willing to share.
AI vs. AW (Artificial intelligence vs. Ancient wisdom)
This brings me back to the question of obsoletion.
How do you stay relevant? How do you bring value in a world where your skills are constantly being overwritten + replaced?
While I’m always preaching how important it is to learn new things + how you’re never too old to learn, it’s also important to realize the tremendous value in those skills that can’t be measured - if you can even call them ‘skills’.
In a world filled with information - perspective, wisdom, experience + context are where the greatest value lies.
While it might seem like the world doesn’t recognize this, I think we just saw in the example above - even AI knows this to be true!
There’s so much noise out there. So much information. As you read up on artificial intelligence, you learn that it doesn’t know how to tell the truth, it’s not always correct. Heck, this happens with humans, too!
We are stepping into an era where wisdom, context + experience will be of vital importance. And, who has that? YOU!
So, next time you catch yourself feeling obsolete or behind the eight-ball, don’t discount your role in this great adventure. Don’t bow out. Instead, lean in.
Own your story. Your wisdom. Your perspective.
Don’t bow down to the robots. Put the robots to work for you, so you can do that thing that only you can do. Share that perspective that only you have. Bring that context to the conversation that only experience can bring.
We need you.
YOUR MISSION:
This week, I challenge you to notice how often you downplay your wisdom. How do you talk to yourself about growing older? We often get frustrated at the world for ageism + then, we go out + talk about ourselves like we’re ‘too old to try something new’ or ‘can’t deal with new technology’.
How do you talk to yourself about your own worth?
Catch yourself. Then remember where your true value lies + offer that up instead.
In the words of the great AI ChatGPT:
Age should not be seen as an obstacle, but rather as a valuable asset, one that can bring a wealth of experience and wisdom to the table.
RESOURCES:
READ: What is ChatGPT and why does it matter? | ZDNet
READ: Two things to stop saying as a woman over 60 | Sixty + Me
READ: I Am 75 and Have No Plans to Retire. Here’s Why My Experience May Inspire You | The Sunday Paper
IN SUMMARY:
I really wanted to share that article with the kitchen robots I was talking about. While I didn’t find the original, it looks like lots of restaurant kitchens are starting to incorporate the technology + as always, Japan seems to be light-years ahead of us. I’ll keep waiting for my kitchen robot. But for now, I’m off to chop some vegetables.
See you next week?
Meanwhile - you can read thru the archives here. And, please reach out to me anytime!
Email: karen@becounter.com
Instagram: @redefiningkaren
Aha! Right on….so much truth in these shared thoughts. I recently retired from a busy career…..and have been focusing on ‘clearing the slate”. In other words, stopping all the busy things in my life & purposely avoiding adding new stuff (regardless of how good it would be for me). For now….I need to stop the noise and hear my own voice before I take on anything new. Recently I've begun to hear this quiet ‘panic voice’ wondering who I am and who I will be going forward. What if I don’t want to do anything? What if I say No to too many things? What if I stop & can't get started? Living in a ‘senior ‘ community, I began to feel like I was surrounded with talk about aging, health challenges, etc. I almost resigned myself to that chatter, as true & real as it is sometimes. Then I took a closer look around me. I’ve aged into the ‘upper’ age group which means that most of my neighbors are younger than me! What am I doing to perpetuate the age talk? Or better yet….what can I do to interrupt the constant age talk…..what positive light can I shed (and model) that not only lifts my spirit & clears my own vision but that helps us all ‘clear the slate’ of age talk habits and perhaps notice the green sprouts of growth that even I am beginning to see in myself as I declutter my own life and take a breath of fresh air? Hmmm. These last weeks or so I’ve found mySELF emerging as I revisit the happiness and accomplishments I’ve known while I also read the wonderful inspiring things that other women have written/spoken/modeled. Author Anne Lamott has inspired me again recently with her blunt, poignant truths wrapped in humor, making me laugh out loud from my chair in my quiet corner. Today it was The Lift that pulled me into another day, another week, lifting my spirits, and challenging me to revise my view of my senior community. I live in a senior community surrounded by younger women. Wow! What message are they learning from me? Thank you Karen for sitting in front of the blank page until The Lift magically emerged. 💕
So good! Lots of tateaways! :)