Instant Gratification Ruined the Magic

A few weeks ago, my cellphone carrier had technical difficulties, and I was unable to use Waze to navigate home.

I was coming from my parents’ house, so I knew where I was going. But it was later in the afternoon, and I was hoping to avoid highway traffic. It wasn’t a big deal, really—but it did make me uncomfortably aware of the fact that we are all absolutely doomed without our cellphones.

Because of that, I recently went down a rabbit hole of things that have become obsolete or no longer exist. And I know you’re thinking, Another rabbit hole? Yay! Lucky me!!

Weirdly, one of the things I miss the most is rush hour traffic.

I don’t miss the traffic itself, but I do miss the reliability of it. Rush hour used to be predictably terrible between 4:00 and 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. I’d leave my parents’ house around 3:30 and miss the worst of it almost every time. It was perfect.

Now, there just always seems to be traffic. All the time. Everywhere. The unpredictability makes it especially annoying. So if someone could bring back rush hour—just the schedule part, not the gridlock—I would really, really appreciate it.

Film is another thing I miss.

I know it still exists, but it’s a lot harder to find now—and you may have to give up eating for a week or two if you plan on having it developed.

I always used Fujifilm, which was known for cooler tones—more blues and greens—than Kodak film.

I loved the whole experience: taking the pictures, dropping the film off to be developed, and the excitement of seeing how they came out. I know some people will say digital photography is more convenient and better quality, and they’re not wrong. But digital is instant gratification.

There was something special about picking up an envelope of photos and being the first person to see what you captured.

Blockbuster—or, for all you youngsters, video stores—are another thing I miss. I loved going in, browsing the aisles, and finally picking out a movie. Or the excitement of knowing a new release was coming out that day. You had to get there early if you wanted a copy.

And don’t forget: Be Kind, Rewind.

I also miss planning life around a TV schedule. When I was a kid, The Wizard of Oz was only shown on TV once a year. It was one of my grandmother’s favorite movies, and watching it with her became a tradition. It aired on either a Friday or Saturday night, so we didn’t have to worry about getting up for school the next morning.

We’d pick up snacks and head to my grandparents’ house to watch the movie. My grandfather would make popcorn. That tradition continued well into my teen years. Sadly, it ended in 1991, when the movie stopped airing annually on regular TV and began showing on cable instead.

I have a vague memory of renting The Wizard of Oz to watch with my grandmother. I’m not sure whether that’s true—or just wishful thinking.

We have so many “conveniences” today, and many of them seem rooted in instant gratification. As strange as it sounds, I think I miss the excitement of waiting—which is ironic, because I’m not someone who enjoys waiting, especially in line.

But there are lessons in waiting. It teaches patience and helps children learn how to manage the frustration that comes with not getting something immediately.

So is it just me, or does it feel like inconvenience now means waiting, and convenience means instant gratification?

And if that’s true… where does it stop?

Will parents soon be expected to download a Santa app so their kids can preview their Christmas gifts? And parents—if someone creates that app and it catches on, I apologize in advance.

⭐ Miss when waiting was part of the fun?
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