Analogue Gives Me Perspective in a Digital Age

Currently, I am sitting at the Airport in East London (South Africa, not the fancy one) and reflecting on the hectic last month I have had.

Between customer engagements, buying into a company or 2, a house move and the technology world screaming ahead, I was battling to keep focus. The last week or so has however felt much better and I was trying to work out why. The answer is simple. A watch. Well, more importantly, the routine of a watch.

I got a new watch just over a week ago. This particular one was originally manufactured in 1917 in Chicago and started out life as a pocket watch. the folks over at Hout Bay Watch Company refurbished the mechanicals and put a wrist watch case. Now I am generally a sucker for a nice watch, but a 100 year old one, with patina and a cool story, had me desperately needing it. The thing is...in 1917 a watch didn't have a battery and they weren't automatic. It has to be wound up once a day.

What has transpired is that the ritual of winding the watch every morning has become a bit of a "centering" exercise for me. I find myself winding, looking at the watch and the process opens up my eyes to the element of "Time". How short it can be, how moments can last forever, how unimportant stuff can steal it. This may sound a little esoteric for some, but just taking the moment to breathe and think what I am actually going to do with my day (and my precious time), has made a profound impact on my temperament and my approach.

Our world is one of instant gratification. Social media bombards us and sucks us in. 100's of TV channels to choose from and binge-watching on Netflix fries our brains. Taking the time to admire the craftsmanship of a bygone era when doing things properly mattered....is rare. I am forced to do it every morning.

Find your "Winding watch" moment. It makes a difference.